Ohio Teen Kills Ex Girlfriend on Myrtle Beach Trip
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Blake Linkis and Natalie Martin, both 18, were on a senior trip to Myrtle Beach with friends in June 2023, despite having broken up weeks prior.
- ❖Blake admitted to choking Natalie after an argument about her Snapchat messages with another male.
- ❖He claimed he didn't intend to kill her and thought she was just 'sleeping' or would leave the room after falling off the bed.
- ❖The next morning, upon finding Natalie unresponsive, Blake attempted suicide before alerting friends.
- ❖Blake confessed to the strangulation during police interrogation, detailing the physical struggle and admitting his actions caused her death.
- ❖He attributed his behavior to alcohol consumption and pre-existing anger issues, acknowledging a prior physical incident with Natalie.
- ❖Blake Linkis pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 45 years in a South Carolina prison.
Insights
1The Fatal Argument and Strangulation
Blake Linkis detailed how an argument with Natalie Martin escalated after he saw messages on her Snapchat from another male. While lying in bed, he reached over and choked her with one hand, then both, causing her to arch up, struggle briefly, and then fall off the bed. He claimed he didn't intend to kill her, stating, 'I just put my hands around her toe and how just one and then two and she like went sideways and fell over and I just said, 'All right, I'm just going to go to bed. Like I'm not dealing with this right now.'
Blake's confession during interrogation, describing the physical act and his immediate reaction.
2Denial of Intent and Delayed Realization
Blake repeatedly stated he didn't realize the severity of his actions that night. He thought Natalie was just 'sleeping' or would leave the room after falling. He went to sleep, only to wake up to the 'dark realization' that she was dead. He texted his parents saying he 'messed up' because he had 'never done that to a woman before,' but still didn't fully comprehend the outcome until morning.
Blake's statements: 'I thought I'd choked her for a little bit and she fell off the bed and I thought she said something to me like I didn't think she was just dead so I just decided to go to bed.' and 'I didn't think I would kill her. Try to kill her. I was just mad.'
3Post-Discovery Suicide Attempt and Confession
Upon finding Natalie cold and blue the next morning, Blake experienced a profound realization of what he had done. He retrieved a knife from the kitchen, went into the shower, and attempted to end his own life, stating, 'I wanted to end my life cuz I didn't want to live without her.' He eventually confessed to the strangulation, acknowledging, 'Whatever I did last night ended up killing her.'
Blake's account of checking Natalie, finding her 'cold and blue,' and then getting a knife to attempt suicide. His direct admission: 'My arms around her phone' (referring to strangulation) and 'Whatever I did last night ended up killing her.'
4Alcohol and Anger as Contributing Factors
Blake attributed his actions to being under the influence of alcohol, stating, 'I don't know the alcohol it just escalates on them worse than I would ever be if I was sober.' He also admitted to having anger issues, inherited from his father, which were exacerbated by drinking. He revealed a prior incident where he pushed Natalie to the ground during an argument.
Blake's statements: 'That's why everything that I do when I drink it just leads into something bad.' and 'I mean, I do got anger issues, but never towards her. I mean, it's got to get it from my dad.' He detailed pushing Natalie 'on the ground in the living room' in a past incident.
Lessons
- Recognize the severe dangers of alcohol consumption in exacerbating anger and violent tendencies, especially in relationships.
- Understand that domestic violence, even without explicit intent to kill, can have fatal consequences.
- Seek professional help for anger management issues, as untreated anger can lead to irreversible harm.
- Be aware of the signs of escalating conflict in relationships, such as physical altercations, and prioritize safety.
- Understand the legal ramifications of physical violence, as even a denial of intent to kill does not absolve responsibility for a death caused by one's actions.
Notable Moments
Blake's initial, detached description of choking Natalie and then going to bed.
This reveals his immediate psychological state of denial or disassociation from the gravity of his actions.
The 911 call from Natalie's friend, describing her as 'ice cold and very blue,' highlighting the immediate aftermath.
This provides a chilling external perspective on the discovery of Natalie's death and the urgency of the situation.
Blake's confession of attempting suicide after realizing Natalie was dead.
This demonstrates the profound guilt and despair he experienced upon fully comprehending the consequences of his actions.
The detective's direct confrontation of Blake about the impact of his actions on Natalie's parents.
This moment attempts to elicit empathy and full accountability from Blake, emphasizing the human cost of the crime.
The reading of the arrest warrant, formally charging Blake with murder.
This marks the official legal consequence and the shift from interrogation to formal charges.
Quotes
"I just put my hands around her toe and how just one and then two and she like went sideways and fell over and I just said, 'All right, I'm just going to go to bed. Like I'm not dealing with this right now.'"
"I thought she was saying something. I thought like I heard something. I don't know. I just after that I just didn't want to talk. I should have just left the room or checked on her and called 911. Like I wasn't in my right mind."
"Because I I kind of just wanted to die with her. Well, is it which is stupid to know, but was it maybe some stark realization of what had happened and what you had done at that point?"
"Blake, I don't know how else to tell you this, buddy, but your actions killed somebody. What you did cause the death of somebody."
"I mean, I do got anger issues, but never towards her. I mean, it's got to get it from my dad. He's got to take medicine for it, which been doing better."
Q&A
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