Amanda Bates

Amanda LeShaun Bates was remembered for a smile that could light up a room and a compassionate heart that embraced everyone she met. A 34-year-old Black woman born on February 12, 1984, Amanda was a devoted mother to her sons, Rayquan and Julian, and a stepson, Treyquan. Her family was the center of her world; she was a beloved daughter to David and Norma "Vicki" Bates, a protective older sister to her two brothers, Quincy and Shaun, and a doting granddaughter. Friends and family recalled her as an amazingly creative, talented, and inspiring person. A 2004 graduate of Charlottesville High School, Amanda was pursuing a teaching degree in elementary education while working at the VA School for Autism in Charlottesville. She was also an active member of Evergreen Ministries and a proud member of the PAC MC motorcycle club in Buckingham, Virginia.

The evening of March 24, 2018, brought a tragic end to Amanda's vibrant life. At around 8 p.m., she was shot multiple times in the head while sitting in the driver's seat of her car. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of her parents' home in the 3500 block of Richmond Road in Keswick, Virginia. First responders rushed to the scene to render aid, and she was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center, but she succumbed to her injuries later that night. Her death was the first homicide in Albemarle County in 2018.

The Albemarle County Police Department launched an immediate investigation. Suspicion quickly fell upon Amanda's estranged fiancé, 34-year-old Cardian Omar Eubanks. Investigators learned that Amanda had ended her relationship with Eubanks about a month before her murder and that he had moved out of the home they shared. The evidence gathered by detectives pointed to Eubanks as the person who had gone to her parents' house and fatally shot her.

Cardian Eubanks was arrested and initially charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was held without bond at the regional jail. The case proceeded to a jury trial, where prosecutors presented evidence that the breakup was the catalyst for the violent act. The charge against Eubanks was upgraded to first-degree murder.

During the trial, which concluded in March 2019, friends and family gave emotional testimony, painting a vivid picture of the creative and compassionate mother whose life had been cut short. They spoke about the profound impact her loss had on her family and the entire community. The jury found Cardian Omar Eubanks guilty of first-degree murder and the associated firearms charges. They recommended a sentence of life in prison for the murder, plus an additional eight years for the gun charges.

On August 5, 2019, an Albemarle County Circuit Court judge formally sentenced Eubanks, upholding the jury's recommendation of life in prison plus eight years. The investigation was led by several detectives from the Albemarle County Police Department's Investigations Division, and the case was prosecuted by the Albemarle County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. Victim rights advocates and the Shelter for Help in Emergency also provided assistance throughout the case.

Amanda's funeral service was held on March 31, 2018, at Covenant Church, followed by her interment at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Ivy, Virginia. Her obituary celebrated her huge smile and warm reception that "lit up time and space, like morning rays of sunshine." Though her life was tragically taken, the memories of her love for her children, her family, and her passion for helping others endure. The case is considered closed with the conviction and sentencing of Cardian Eubanks.