STRATHCONA, Minnesota (Valley News Live) – The man who died in a house fire on Seddrex Gates in Roseau County last week. He was on the run after allegedly killing Patricia Wright in Brooklyn Center.

“So he had a warrant out for his arrest for fire and arson, and he was on the run from the law for three years,” said Teicha Tenhoff, Patricia Wright’s sister.

On June 23, 2021, Teicha was allegedly shot in the head by his former partner Seddrex Gates at his sister Patricia’s Brooklyn Center home. A home he shares with Gates and their six children. Court documents say he killed Patricia, although he was never convicted.

“So that’s a lot of anger, and it’s really unfair that he did this to our family, to their children, when we could have just let him go.”

October Gates was charged with first-degree arson for setting the murder scene on fire.

“Until the day he burned down the garage, our family was asking him for my sister’s belongings. “He said he would give us his belongings, but then all my sister’s belongings were left in the garage in the fire.”

Court documents say a deal was made between Wright and Gates to sell the house. He then contacted another real estate agent to sell the house. He disappeared before any sales could occur. The court then decided that he should go to Teicha. Gates told cops he lit the fire because he “had a bad feeling.”

“So we never got those items.”

Just a few weeks ago, Gates was about to be sentenced.

“Until recently, in May, they found him living in Brainerd with his current girlfriend. Then he came down, he was under house arrest from May until last October, when he cut off his house arrest bracelet.”

Teicha says he doesn’t want to deal with the consequences.

“He cut off the bracelets because he knew he would be punished for arson, and he didn’t want to do it that time. Because we were going to that arson case, we were also there during the arson case. He would appear in court and be sentenced. “When he realized he was looking at the time, he decided to cut off his house arrest bracelet.”

Court documents say he escaped. Gates was found near the Canadian border, more precisely in Strathcona. He was dead.

“I guess prison wasn’t a punishment after all. Because he could finally be released. He was still able to enjoy life, visit, still see his family. I think he got the ultimate punishment for killing someone. So yes, we are relieved.”

Patricia and Gates leave behind six children. Teicha says the oldest know what’s going on and there are no emotions involved.

“When I told them, they were very relieved. But they have the same thing: ‘Now we will never know why they did this to our mother.’”

A sister and mother whose life ended tragically.

“My sister was amazing. She was everyone’s mother, everyone’s friend, everyone’s sister. He was sometimes more patient with his children than I was. Because there are so many of them and sometimes it can get chaotic. But it was amazing.”

Teicha said the detective will likely close the case. Even though Gates has a girlfriend who they are seeing if they can sue for hiding a fugitive.

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