Uh, Blake, you're being charged with murder. So, I mean Did you kill somebody? Are you saying my life will be ruined? Yeah, your life's fixing to be a [ __ ] show for a little while. Meet 18-year-old Blake Lankford. Right now, Blake has just realized that he is going to prison for the murder of his girlfriend, a crime that he tried to erase along with himself. I didn't try to kill her. I was upset cuz I kind of just wanted to die with her. But with that plan failing catastrophically, detectives are about to discover that behind Natalie's death is a 3-year-long devastating story, one filled with lies, jealousy, and violence, all at the whims of one teenage monster. I love Natalie. Yeah, it's definitely going to be a real big building room for you. My girl. How was this even possible? On June 7th, 2023, police in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, received a 911 call that sent them rushing into action. And I'm out in Myrtle Beach right now for our senior trip. And our friend is passed out on the floor right now, and she's ice cold, and she's very blue. Her lips are blue, and she's not breathing. >> Where are you at? Where are you at? >> Where are we at? Mason Drive. That friend, who was on the floor not breathing, was 18-year-old Natalie Jane Martin, a recent high school graduate from Roseville, Ohio, who traveled to the beach to celebrate the milestone with a big group of her lifelong friends. Natalie worked at a daycare center, loved hunting, gardening, and fishing, and had a beautiful life ahead of her. But in the blink of an eye, her bright light was snuffed out, and her friends were left to try and save her life, knowing full well that her killer was among them. You need to do chest compressions, okay? Okay. You're going to pump the chest hard and fast at least twice per second and 2 inches deep. Okay, I got it. >> Let the chest come all the way up between pumps. We're going to do this 600 times or till help can take over. As paramedics raced to give Natalie CPR, her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Blake Lankford, was also in need of assistance. Why? He had stabbed himself in the chest. After being taken to the hospital for monitoring and treatment, Blake told police that he had accidentally strangled Natalie the previous night. He was so distraught over her death that he believed there was only one way out, at least in his version of events. After he was deemed healthy enough to be taken into custody, police did so and brought him in for questioning. The following footage was kindly provided to us by Horry County Police Department. [Music] [Music] Any time we talk to you, do one of these things, okay? Understand that? Detectives read Blake his Miranda rights for the second time, though it's very much like reading them to a blank wall. Talk about a Gen Z stare. She was really not So, you guys were planning on going to the House of Blues, right? Okay. Just start start from there and walk me back through everything again. I don't know. I don't know. We were over there sitting there. And then I was talking to the other friends I knew there, and everyone else was in the back towards the back of the line. And they were saying Dakota was getting kicked out, so I walked over there. And just wanted to know what was going on. And then you know, he was going to get Natalie back, and how we got to the versus she's going to get back. And when we get Dakota to come back, and Natalie's uh with them. And go back. Kept bringing more. Me and Natalie, you know, had stuff together. Dakota took a little bit of a nap. We just kept hanging out with him. And later on the whole situation happened, which I didn't mean to. It just happened. I would never hurt her anyway. I thought it was a dream. I didn't know it was true. Okay. So, you, Dakota, and Natalie, where was it where you went back to the where y'all were meeting each other at? All right. Um, do you remember about what time that was? I don't know. I have an idea, maybe. It's It's one thing I'm never Like it was a dark I don't know. Um, all right. Um And you said the whole thing happened. All right. Tell me what that whole thing was. I mean, like I mean, you need to go back through it. And you talk very softly, so I'm struggling to hear you. Sorry. Um I'm pretty sure we were watching TikTok or something, and I got mad over something on her phone, which it's hard for me to exactly remember what it was, and I thought I 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 So, I went to go to bed with just Dakota. It seemed like he didn't want to even even go to the club. You know, I should have checked on her. All right, let me back you up. And you said you got in an argument over something on the phone on the phone. And what was that? I'm not sure. It was like other dudes or something. I don't know. Okay. Now, what led up to you choking her? I mean, tell me I need excruciating detail about that. I think we were beside each other, and uh How were How were y'all on the bed? You said you were beside each other, so I'm guessing y'all were on the bed. Yeah. How were y'all on the bed? Just like I mean, she was on her back, and I was on my side like towards her, and I mean, I'm pretty sure like I was just like saying stuff to her, and I just reached and she was saying stuff back, and she I just reached over, and she She was at the edge of the bed, so I just choked her for a little bit, not meaning to just try to kill her whatsoever. And how were y'all on the bed? Were y'all like you Like say this is the bed to something against the wall here. Were y'all facing Were y'all like feet this way or feet this way or Feet towards the end of the bed. >> Feet towards the end of the bed. Okay. All right. Which side of the bed was she on? Was she on like this side or that side? Um The side that she was on the whole time. Okay. Like All right. Right there. Side. Okay, you said you reached over and like choked her. I had How did you do that? Just I just put my hands around her throat, and How? Just Well, I didn't mean to, 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." So, I rolled over, and towards the middle of the bed, and I thought she just wanted to stay down there. I thought she was going to leave the room or something. For the entirety of Blake's time in the spotlight surrounding this case, this is the tone and expression he's carried, annoyed, uninterested, and unashamed. Repeatedly, you'll hear him claim that he barely choked her, and that he didn't realize she was dead. In reality, experts believe that she was choked for nearly 4 minutes until she died. Blake had 4 minutes to change his mind, 4 minutes where he could have made the decision to spare her life. Instead, he continued to harm her as she begged and fought for her life. I mean, did she like try to push you off over grab your hands or Did she try to say anything? I mean, what was What was the contact there? She got up like that. Yeah, she was pushing a little bit, but I mean that was really it. Well, what was your body position? I mean, where How Where were you at? I mean, first I was laying on the bed, and then I when she got up, I got up a little bit. And we were just on our knees. Like we I don't know. Never on our feet at all. Okay. You You said she was on her back, and you were kind of laying on your side. I'm assuming you were kind of laying like you know, your hand to prop up on your head and whatnot. Was it one hand over at first? Mhm. And then she maybe pushed a little bit. I don't know. It just didn't feel long at all, honestly. And she fell back. I didn't think anything of it. And When she kind of fell back Did she Did you say she kind of fell off the bed a little bit? Yeah, she just went straight back. She fell off. Was Were Were you still holding on to her when she was off almost kind of like going like around? When she fell off the bed, how did she fall? Did she fall off like sideways or backwards or I'm pretty she it backwards and like she rolled over on me. And I didn't check up on her. I really should have. Was there Did you hear anything, any noises or I thought she was saying something. I thought like I heard something. I don't 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. I wasn't in my right mind. You said You said you guys are arguing after whatever you found on the phone. Did she You said You said something or she said something. Do you know what she said to you? I don't know. I don't remember what we both talked about at all. I just know that I said something, which I never get mad mad at that stuff. It's just she'd get mad and then just I don't know. The alcohol it just escalates. I don't know. Or if I would ever be that sober. That sober, I just storm off or something. Cuz we've just never had anything like that happen to us before. You said something that like that never happened to us before. So, what happened? Like what are you Are you talking about what happened after the fact or you talking about what happened that night that led up to that? Like we've never Like we've always just been a good couple. We've never done anything like that. Nothing ever physical before to each other? No. And people can prove that. But this isn't true. Natalie and Blake had been dating for around 3 years, and in those 3 years, Blake was possessive, jealous, and quick to anger. In one instance, Blake shoved Natalie onto the ground in front of a group of people while they were having an argument. Even as people yelled at him, he continued to push her. And if he was doing that in public, what was he doing behind closed doors? But so After Natalie falls off the bed, um you said you maybe What did you say you thought she said something or something of that nature? What what was that? I mean What what What did you hear? I guess is what I'm trying to get at. She like just breathing and a word. It's like a word came out. I don't know. It didn't seem like she was like dying. Cuz I've never heard anyone die. So, All right. So, I guess at that point you went to sleep. Is that what you say? I feel like I did. Huh? That's exactly what I did. And I thought she was really sleeping. I got out of the room. I don't know. Did you text anybody or anything at that point? Texted my parents. Right. I messed up. That was really it. And then I woke up and stuff. What was that about? Just cuz I mean I've never done that to a woman before in my life. And I didn't check to see if she was on the ground still or she had Like it was just during that time so I put my phone down and I didn't die. And I just I was really tired anyway, so I just went to bed. And then I woke up. How did that happen? It's water. It's using both. When you woke up, tell me what happened then. I woke up. I First seen her there. I thought she was sleeping. I knew something was off. She looked and And I went to shower and then I got a knife and stuff. I thought like that she actually was dead or something cuz she was still in the same position and she All right. I'm backing up a little bit cuz you lost me. You got Excuse me. You got a You saw Natalie still on the floor. Where was Where was she at? Same way. Just on the side of the floor. She hadn't moved anywhere else. She hadn't the bed. Like it's just She was She like right beside the bed or kind of under the bed or sided a little bit. I don't know. I don't really know. Okay. All right. So, you got up. You seen Natalie. What's the first thing you think, see, you do at that moment? I didn't I kind of checked on her a little bit. Like I just like moved her arm a little bit and she was like cold blue and I'm just like this is really happening. Like this is really happening. And then I like walked outside. People were sleeping and I just I wanted cuz I didn't want to live without her and I just did that. And I just I stood in the shower for a minute and I just I couldn't do it to myself, so I just went out. I was like we need to get her help now. But again, this isn't true. Blake didn't call 911 for Natalie. Instead, after killing her, he remained locked in the condo with her for several hours, well into the following morning. When he was discovered by their friends who were also staying at the condo, he didn't mention Natalie or ask for help. Instead, he pointed to his own wounds. In other words, he never had any intention of saving Natalie, just himself. Cuz I didn't want to know that I lived without her. Didn't want to know that she was dead. Again, let me let me rephrase that cuz I'm probably not coming across right way. You said you just did that. What did you just do? Like I grabbed a knife. No. When you seen Natalie, and you said that you had the realization I just did that. What was that realization? What did you do? That Whatever I did last night ended up killing her. Okay. And then I'm guessing you assumed that was what? What exactly did you do at that point? I I don't know what I did. She fell off the bed. Okay. So, I I guess here's where I'm having a little bit of block, I guess, on it. I guess the next morning is the stark realization that this is really bad. Um but that makes me think that there there was some thought process the night before. You know what I mean? Like okay, you get up next morning and here she is that you know she's dead. And then you think I just did that. I was choking her. So, was there some thought process the night before of I have harmed her. I mean the night before I just I just done that out of like an anger. I didn't obviously, like I said before, try to kill her. No. So, she hit the ground and I just thought that was it. Neither her or the room. I literally Cuz my phone was already across the bed, so I just got on the bed, rolled over, got my phone, texted that. Cuz I knew like she would have complained about it to her friends when we leave that next day. I guess the next morning you kind of had the oh crap moment. Is that when you realized that that Natalie's dead and I choked her last night and that's what caused this or was there some thought from last night that went maybe she's not okay, but I don't care cuz I'm mad at said cuz like I really nothing was really going through my mind like that at all. Yeah, I just I didn't think that she was like hurt that bad. I don't know. So, that's the morning. That's when I was surprised. That's why I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to do. I was like I wanted I should have just went to bed. Got 911 called just a little bit earlier. I should have just checked on her when she did hit the ground. Okay. So, I guess here's the line I'm getting at. So, you get up. You check on Natalie. You realize that she's she's deceased. Um at that point, what you're telling me is you went into the kitchen area, got the knife, and came back into the bedroom, and then went into the shower to send you was in your Natalie's bedroom, right? Is that it? Is that correct? All right. Um My question is is literally this. Why that Why did you that at that point versus go ahead and saying, "Hey, Natalie's in bad shape. We need to get some help." Because I I kind of just wanted to Well, is it just stupid and I don't know but Was it maybe some stark realization of what had happened and what you had done at that point? I don't A little bit, yeah. That's why I just thought that like I knew I did that. I didn't think it was a dream or anything. But I just didn't think I would kill her. I wasn't trying to kill her. I was just mad. We've been together for almost 3 years, and there's never been anything even a little chip. I didn't know what to think. I've never been in this position before. Never been in trouble. I seen her on the ground. I just want I didn't She'd get away if I tried to get help. I wouldn't know how to go through it. So, you guys have been together for 3 years? So, you guys met when you were both 15? Or she she you're younger or same age? We were the same age. Same age? Did you guys go to the same high school? Mhm. Is she the only girl you've been with? Mhm. Are you the only guy that she she's been with? Basically, yeah. She's had boyfriends, but And and you guys been together for 3 years, so. Mhm. Yeah. But, you've had you've been with other people. Have you Have you did you cheat on her before or was this before you guys even started dating? It was before. Okay. Their 3-year relationship was filled with turmoil. The two had broken up a few weeks before Natalie was killed after an incident where he shoved her in front of others. However, the tickets for their trip were already booked, and after a long relationship of ups and downs, they decided to push through the vacation and see what happens. Unfortunately, the unthinkable did. Do you have any doubt what you did caused her death? What do you mean? I mean, do you doubt what you did caused her death? Is there any doubt in your mind what you done caused her death caused her to die? Well, at the time when it first I didn't know, but now I do know. And there's no other way. I mean, it was me, and I remembered it happened. I didn't think it was actually true. And when I was I seen that morning I was just hyperventilating. I didn't know what to do. I wish I could explain, but I've never been in that position before. All right. So, and you you tell me right or wrong if I'm understanding this the way I put it. Kind of paraphrase it. The next morning, you kind of had that moment of oh crap, I choked her last night and I've killed her. Is that the thought process the next morning? Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. You guys ever had any bad arguments before? I mean, nothing that led to that, no. Well, obviously that led to that. >> touching her ear. I mean, you obviously I mean, for the first 2 years, I mean, that's why everyone thought the most of us cuz people could barely go through months or anything, and we just we were so perfect. I mean, for the family that knows me, Now, here's another thing I'm going to ask you. Because I'm going to have to talk to them. Talk to them? Natalie's parents. I'm sure you've been You guys been dating for 3 years, right? Mhm. I'm sure you've been to their house. I'm sure they've been quite hospitable to you. I'm sure you've probably eaten dinner, lunch, and stuff in that house. What do you want me to tell them? What would you tell them? I mean, I've already thought about it. I don't They would not believe it, obviously. Great person. Strong, independent woman. I mean, we've done so many favors for each other, and our families favors for their families and her. She's done way more than that with ours, too, and not me. She's a great woman, and I've just I've always loved her and cared about her, and they they've loved me. I've always known that. They've always known of my protection I have for her. I've I've fought over people for for good reasons. And then this just happens, and I didn't I didn't know what to think. Is this Is this actually true? Okay. What do you mean you fought over people for her? Probably a year ago. I So, this is when we both went to Med East. We went to follow what She went to follow freshman sophomore year of high school. I went to follow freshman year and went to Med East. It's a trade school. I did power line stuff up there all the way till I graduated. She went there her junior year, same with me, obviously. And which it wasn't even true. There was rumors going around saying that like I don't know. This dude was messing around with her and stuff, and she was denying it, and this whole senior power line group, I was in the power line, talking crap, and wanted to meet up at this car wash, and everyone was saying this dude could beat me up and stuff, and I you know, I fought over her for her. Just over some rumors? Yeah, but there's a whole I mean, whole situation over it. I mean, we were chat just text me about it. And other mobile power line kids, they even like confronted us in power line. I was on this transition pole inbound, and so, no one else wanted Has that always been kind of a constant with you guys through that situation getting brought back up or No, but Trust issues? I mean, stuff like that stays in the back of your head, man. We're We're all guys. I mean, yeah. >> But, she's thing like she she really hasn't done anything. And it's just like even when I'm sober, I'm saying when I'm sober, and I'm just hear about stuff like see stuff, I just it is what it is. I'm not controlling. I'm not insecure. I'm just I'm like, all right. I mean, it sucks, but I mean, it's like I can't do my own thing, too, but But, he didn't do his own thing, and he never had. Throughout their relationship, he constantly accused Natalie of cheating, and would even follow her to parties to make sure guys weren't there. When they broke up, the two had agreed to see other people and remain friends in the weeks leading up to the trip. Despite him agreeing that they weren't exclusive or together, this behavior continued well into their trip to Myrtle Beach. At one point, Natalie had to beg him through text messages to leave her alone. She explicitly and very respectfully told him that she didn't want to speak with him and needed space. She asked him not to bombard her friends' phones or call her mother like he was known to do, and to just leave her be. But, obviously, if their relationship and this event is any proof, he was incapable of that. He was obsessed, and he felt ownership over Natalie despite what he told her. I didn't think it was true. I thought it was a dream, a nightmare. And I wasn't even I mean, I was a little bit mad, obviously, but I wasn't trying to like completely harm her, even though I mean, that's Well, I mean, what what did you get mad about? Whatever I seen on her phone, and it was just like What What did you see on the phone? You You You know what you saw. It was nothing like This dude was like trying to meet up with her that I was there and I don't know if she you know, Myrtle Beach, and call her babe and stuff, and she wasn't even like >> Oh, she She gave out her number to some dude? >> No, it was through Snapchat. >> Oh, through Snap Okay. It was just all on Snapchat. Got you. I don't know. I just I got mad about it. She was saying I'm mad and stuff like I don't know. And then she would show me her texts, and I don't But, What's What's in your hand right here? This? Yeah. I stopped drinking like This is a year and a half ago. I party. I mean, What Were you drinking then? That's why everything that I do when I drink, it just leads into something bad. What I I I do want to know that. I I want to know what she did say to you, though. Cuz I had I think you said you said you weren't saying nothing. She was She was going off talking about I mean, there there had to been that spark of I mean, she got mad over like She gets mad over that, and it's just I don't I don't I just take it so much differently when I'm drinking every time. That's why I can't be doing it anymore. My parents have even told me that if you want to do it, then enjoy it. And we were having such a good vacation. We were good together. Is there any Is obviously there was some rumors and stuff and all that? Um I guess Is there any other issues where you may have felt like she'd been paying some other fellow too much attention or whatever because of I was saying that the other time, but like it it really wasn't like that. Like she like she snaps on the people and stuff. I mean, yeah, I kind of did it myself, but I mean, it's not really a big deal. >> I'm I'm just kind of wondering at what point it seemed like a good idea to grab a hold of somebody by the throat. Well, it's just I don't know this dude. I mean, I actually That's what I'm saying. Some of my friends didn't really like him, too, either. And um like I seen the other time I'm just like, all right, whatever. That was at the beach. That's when I was more sober. And then at night, like he's just still like all like when he get mad and trying to like then he was calling her like her bae and stuff, but she wasn't like giving her off that same vibe. And then when I would ask her, like she just get all mad and stuff, even though like I knew there was nothing nothing going on. Just cuz I mean, I've always kind of trusted her. Yeah. I don't know, but it just kind of made me switch. And that's kind of how it happened. I just pushed her down that one time. Even though, yeah, she kind of shoved me, but it was just a little switch. And like it's not like I just stopped. That's the way that stopped. And I don't know. Do you Do you wear any kind of necklace or anything at any any time? Yeah, my neck My necklace got snapped off. My favorite necklace. When did that happen? That's when when we both came up and she like kind of just like ripped it. Off the neck, and scattered. And I'm going to just grab the pendant. Run with me. Like What kind of pendant? A Jesus Christ. A what? A Jesus pendant. Okay. Is it like a crucifix or is it like a crucifix with the Christ on it or I had the gold Jesus and you know, silver cross. Okay. And the silver chain. So, is that when you had you had the one hand she started kind of coming up? Yeah, that's when I just came up. >> So, she she snaps at you. Is that when you went with both hands to get her back down? I mean, yeah, I just had both hands on her. And then that's when she came off the bed. And then I'm just like, I'm not doing it. Like I I Yeah, there's some I'm not doing this tonight. I'm going to bed. I rolled over and I text my mom. Obviously, I was even more mad. I mean, yeah, my chain and just her making me mad. And I just text her and I'm just text and then just went straight to sleep, basically. I don't know. I was kind of out of it anyways, cuz especially when we weren't going to cuddle and stuff anymore. So, Blake not only wore a religious pendant at all times, but he has a tattoo on his chest that reads John 15:13. Now, it's been a long time since I've been in Sunday school, so bear with me. But that verse says, "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." It seems that Blake misinterpreted that message entirely. The The night before, did Was there any doubt in your mind that you had hurt her? I mean, I'd say a little bit. Like just fact that I'm mad. I mean, not hurt her hurt her, but I mean maybe when she fell down or something. And then I didn't really check on her. I just I kind of didn't care yet. I just I clearly don't I'm just saying I'm going to bed. Like I don't care what you do. Like sleep there or walk out or and maybe that should have been a sign for me to check on her. Maybe none of this would have happened. I don't know. I just I don't know. I just I was so confused about it all when I seen her there. It just made no sense to me, but that's why I I just don't even know what to think. Like I don't want her gone out of my life. She I want to live the rest of my life that we've talked about all the time. Let me See if I can summarize this thing up a little bit. You and Natalie are laying in the bed. You guys are fussing about some Snapchat with some guy. You reach over and grab her by the neck. She goes to kind of arch out and sit up. You sit up. You guys end up on your both of you on your knees in the bed. And you got both hands on her neck. Is that right? Is that when she grabbed your chain your necklace and pulled it off? Yeah. I'm sure that made you mad. I mean, yeah, a little bit, but not that mad, honestly. It was not the first time my chain's been ripped off. Not my hurt and I mean, it's It was basically So, what was What was being said at that point? Were you saying anything or Was she trying to say anything I wasn't saying nothing at all. And she wasn't, either, at all. And I thought she was just like I don't know, like moaning and groaning on the ground and like trying to get a word out and I'm trying to like saying something and I just didn't care for it at all. I really didn't think He He means before that all that started happening. Yeah, before she fell off the bed. Was she Was she No, that's No, that's what I said. Nothing. Okay. When she When When she did fall off on the floor, I mean, was it It kind of did sound loud, honestly. Do what? >> Yeah, I mean, it kind of was loud. Well, did she try to catch herself in any way or It like like a the back girl like hands went back like sideways. You can't do these, but So, it seemed like But it When you let go of her, was it because she like forced herself away from you or was it like It was kind of like That's what it felt like, that like like her kind of like her arm went my side and I just kind of like pushed her in whatever, not too hard. I just like I don't know. How that reaction was, but like I just felt her arm like cuz her chain got ripped off either my shoulder or somewhere on this side. And still had it on her neck a little bit. And I just like I kind of just pushed her down. But she's like kind of pushing off me. And that's why like she went down. I kind of seen her arm go out. I just thought she was going to lay there or leave the room, but I know she wasn't going to come back to bed. I to him and get up or something about him. Hit the ground and I just wasn't I don't know. I just told her like she can get out of the room. I don't care. Was there a little bit of tussle around with the bed when all that was taking place? Tussle on the I mean, like you obviously, you know, you you got two people getting up on their knees in the bed. It's kind of beating around some. I mean, a little bit. It was also a big bed. So, it was just that kind of like that section of the bed. It wasn't the whole bed at all. Do you remember your hand placement on her neck? I just I don't know. Just one two and stuff. I mean, I don't know the exact hand placement. Just to get a reference here. Can you You kind of just kind of show me with with the the skeleton here what you're talking about as far as your hand placement and how that was. My hand placement. Yeah, on on Natalie. Like like Like use Natalie. Okay. Well, it seemed like you you're talking about laying on your side and what not. So, I'm assuming would she be on that side of you? Over there on this side. Let me see. This side. So, she'd be on this side. Yeah, on this side. Okay. Yeah, cuz I was like this. And she was like propped up. And then I looked at that. And we were just like I was going out. I kind of leaned up a little bit. And she like kind of like scooted up a little bit more. And I grabbed her with this arm. Grab her with which arm? This one. Your right one. My left. Your left one. Okay. Grabbed her. And then she kind of got up a little bit. That's when That's when I switched. And then the necklace came off at some point. And this little bit. And then I just we basically just pushed each other off or whatever. It felt like maybe it was more me than her. Like I wasn't completely aware of what happened. I just had had some good The best way to put it is I mean, I wasn't in my right mind. I'm not sure if Blake is capable of being in his right mind. His excuses that he didn't mean to kill Natalie and that he was out of sorts aren't the magic eraser that he seems to think they are. To this day, he continues to make the same claims. He didn't mean to kill her. Therefore, he isn't guilty of murder. But thankfully, that's not how this works. Natalie had a whole life ahead of her. And it was ruined because she was exchanging texts with a local boy who she met on Snapchat. She was 18. She was single. She had a life of adventure and joy ahead of her. And that was all snatched away. I have a serious question. Sure. I mean, have you like already have talked Have you talked to her mom or just her dad or I spoke to her dad briefly yesterday. Obviously, I'm going to have to talk with him a lot more over time. Like well, if you don't mind, if you're allowed to, like what did you say? Pardon? What all did you say to him? I just told him that his daughter was deceased. And that there was some suspicious circumstances and that was under investigation right now. What did he say? Well, he was quite devastated. That's his daughter. He's his baby girl. He's a little angry, wanting to know what happened and everything else. I said, "Well, in time to come, we'll be able to tell you more." I'm pretty sure you're probably not going to be their favorite person in the world for a long, long, long, long, long time. I would I would argue that when the Yeah, when everything kind of settles down, though, if you know if you talking with us and telling us everything to give them the you know everything that we know to the best of our knowledge, though, that's at least the best thing that you could do, just to you know at least at at least give them that to them. Yeah. And that's and that's why we're asking these things. I understand. I don't know why I would I've loved her more than anyone in my whole life. I've served her daughter. They're the best They're the best parents in the world. I just want them to know that I didn't mean to do that. And my intentions were not to do that at all. And now everyone's going to hate me and I didn't even mean to do that. But 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 he's been doing better, but Natalie's father was and is utterly devastated by what happened to his daughter. At trial, he delivered a heartbreaking statement about his baby girl, expressing his devastation that he will never get to see her again, and his anger that she was taken from him by, in his exact and incredibly accurate words, Blake Linkous's greasy, cowardly hands. Natalie I just want to see you one more time. Just one more time. Please. Please. Please. I just want to see you. I just want to see you. I just want to see you. I want to talk to you. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want to see you. [Laughter] She's my girl. How was this selfish? She's really pretty. Yeah. Detectives return, interrupting Blake's pity party. So, uh Blake, you're being charged with murder. Say again? The homicide is simply simply defined as a killing of one human being by another. South Carolina statute says murder is the killing of one human being by another with malice aforethought, either expressed or implied. Grabbing somebody by the neck, Blake, that's you that's you're expressing that you intend to do them harm. You grab me by the neck, it's going to get real bad real fast for anybody else in this line of work or medical or anything else. Cuz they know what that entails. Or any anybody in the public in general, for that matter. Did you wrestle in Indian high school? I meant to ask you that. Yeah. She's my baby girl. Mhm. She's my baby girl. These are going to be your copies of the arrest warrant and uh And that's the search warrant for your DNA, which is what we just done. Um So, what's going to happen now? From here, I'll make a copy of this for you. Yeah. From here, you will go to the detention center. Um you'll get booked in, processed in there. And you'll be at the detention center until you have a bond hearing. Do you think my baby will be really Blake, I don't know how else to tell you this, buddy, but your actions killed somebody. What you did caused the death of somebody. Okay? Let me break it down to you for this. Like this. Think the world of your mom and dad, right? What if somebody off the street grabbed a hold of your mom by the neck and choked her until she died? How would you feel about that person? Hate them. Want to do it to them. Yeah. So, yeah, your life's fixing to be a [ __ ] show for a long, while for lack of a better way to put it. I don't have a more I I just don't know a better way to explain that to you. You understand this is going to go on in your life? Yeah, it's definitely going to be a real big bump in the road for you. Because dude, you killed somebody. So, what does that So, that's where we're at. Ultimately, Blake was charged with the murder of Natalie Martin. However, his trial left even more damage in its wake. He was released on a $150,000 bond, allowing him to stay at home with an ankle monitor while he awaited his trial, rather than forcing him to wait in jail. Natalie's loved ones were devastated by this, with her father stating, "Imagine your daughter's killer gets to go home for 635 days and do whatever he wants to. The reason he was granted bond was because he wasn't violent. My daughter would beg to differ." Ultimately, after those 635 days, Blake was forced to face the music. He pleaded guilty to Natalie's murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison without the possibility of parole. As of the publishing of this video, however, he is challenging his conviction. He stated that he feels his sentence is too long because his actions were unintentional, which again is not how things work. Our thoughts are with Natalie's family and friends. Everything our team has read about her has showed what a bright, wonderful spirit she had. And it is a reminder of what kind of effect you can have when you live your life to the fullest. Thank you for watching today's video. Whether you're new here or been with us for a while, check out one of the craziest cases I've ever covered right here, or one of my newest uploads right here.