After spending more than a week in the care of Baptist Memorial Hospital — Golden Triangle, suspected murderer George Pate is now in the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Pate had been in Baptist Behavioral Health Care-Willowbrook since Tuesday after he was released from Baptist”s Intensive Care Unit for treatment of drug overdose. Hospital administrators had been vague about a time when they would release him into police custody; but late Friday morning he was checked out of the facility and immediately arrested by a waiting police force.
“I”m just glad we were able to get this resolved and he was able to get the treatment he needed, and now we”ll just let the criminal justice system take care of it from here,” said Columbus Police Department Chief Joseph St. John.
Pate is accused of killing his wife, Peggy Pate.
An unconscious George Pate was discovered by police near the body of Peggy Pate in their home on Eighth St. S. in Columbus last Wednesday night. She died as the result of a gunshot wound. He was comatose after ingesting a cocktail of prescription drugs.
Pate has been formally charged with murder and has a bond set at $750,000. However, he will not be able to make bond next week until Monday, when he has an initial appearence hearing.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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