Mother, sons who allegedly called in bomb threat to Cox Barton County to avoid urine test bound over for trial

A Lamar woman and her two sons who allegedly called in multiple bomb threats forcing the evacuation of Cox Barton County Hospital March 4 were bound over for trial after waiving their preliminary hearings Tuesday in Barton County Circuit Court.

Bond has been set at $100,000 cash or surety for Terrie R. Walker, 61, Larry C. Gates, 42, and Jason A. Gates, 40, (second photo)who are charged with felony taking terroristic threats in the first degree.

Walker and Larry Gates are scheduled to make their first appearances in trial court 9 a.m. April 23. Jason Gates' first appearance is set for 1 p.m. the same day.

The probable cause statement alleges Jason Gates was at Cox Barton County for a workplace-related drug urine test that he did not believe he was going to pass so his mother and brother phoned in threats to evacuate the hospital and force a delay in the testing.

The Barton County Sheriff's Office issued the following news release March 5:

On March 4, 2020, the Barton County 911 Center was notified of a bomb threat at Cox Barton County Hospital.

The Lamar Police Department responded along with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Barton County Sheriff's Department.

After conferring with executive staff, the decision was made to evacuate the hospital.

The evacuation and relocation of patients was turned over to the Barton County Ambulance District, which was handled with assistance from other agencies, Vernon County Ambulance District, Crawford County Kansas Ambulance and Metro Emergency Transport Systems (METS) out of Joplin.

Cox staff and security along with law enforcement and the Lamar Fire Department conducted a search of the building. No suspicious items or explosive devices were found.









Through a cooperative effort with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Information Analysis Center, we were able to identify a suspect in making the call.

The suspect and other persons of interest were later located on a traffic stop by the Lamar Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Department.

As a result of interviews conducted in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation two suspects have been arrested for making terroristic threats and are currently in custody at the Barton County Jail awaiting formal charges.

Jason A. Gates, 40, and his mother, Terrie R. Walker, 61, both of Lamar, were arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

Larry Gates was arrested the following day.