Fort Wayne man faces 30 years in prison for double stabbing | Courts

A Fort Wayne man faces about 30 years in prison for a stabbing that killed one man and injured another if a judge accepts his plea deal.

Floyd Bates Jr., 60, was arrested in October 2022 on preliminary charges of murder and attempted murder. He allegedly stabbed Margaret Louise Surry, 33, and an unidentified man around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 14, 2022, in the 7900 block of Decatur Road.

Surry died of stab wounds to the neck and torso, according to the Allen County Coroner's Office.

Bates was scheduled to face a jury trial next week on formal charges of murder and battery with a deadly weapon. If convicted on both counts, he would face 71 years in prison.

He will receive a 33-year prison sentence if his plea deal is approved by Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull.

He pleaded guilty to battery with a deadly weapon and a new charge: voluntary manslaughter. The agreement dismisses the murder charge.

Bates will be sentenced to 30 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and three years for battery, according to the plea agreement. However, the charges will run concurrently or at the same time.

Gull can assess victims' restitution without any restrictions of the plea agreement.

Bates' sentencing hearing is set for June 21 at 8:30 a.m.