Accused Bradenton murderer Andres Avalos Jr. to appear in court Thursday

MANATEE --Triple-murder suspect Andres Avalos Jr. will appear in court Thursday in order for the court to correct a typographical error in the indictment charging him with first-degree murder, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Avalos was initially charged with three counts of second-degree murder, which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison. On Tuesday, a grand jury handed up an indictment charging him with three counts of first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison or

the death penalty.

The indictment, however, has a typo in the introduction listing the year as 2013 rather than 2014.

In order to correct the error without having to reconvene the grand jury, a hearing had to be called. Avalos is scheduled to appear at 3:15 p.m. Thursday before Circuit Judge John Lakin.

Investigators said Avalos hanged his wife from a cord in the laundry room of their northwest Bradenton home, then beat and shot her. He also gunned down his neighbor, Denise Potter, 46, who apparently was visiting at his home, investigators said.

After the attacks on the women, investigators say Avalos dropped his 4-year-old son off at daycare and went to the Walmart on State Road 64 where he left his vehicle. Avalos then took a taxi to Bayshore Baptist Church, 6502 14th St. W., where investigators and witnesses said he shot and killed the Rev. James "Tripp" Battle, 31.

Avalos was arrested Dec. 6 after a 51-hour manhunt led by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and a public plea from his father to turn himself in for the sake of his six children, who were being held in a safe house until his capture. He was arrested in a mobile home park less than two blocks from Bayshore Baptist Church.

After his arrest, Avalos admitted to the slayings, Assistant State Attorney Art Brown said at the first court hearing Dec. 7.

Avalos is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published December 17, 2014 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Accused Bradenton murderer Andres Avalos Jr. to appear in court Thursday ."