Most people would agree that high-profile murder trials involving celebrities often captivate public attention.
The case of actor Robert Blake, accused of murdering his wife Bonny Lee Bakley, was no exception.
This article will provide an in-depth examination of Blake's shocking arrest, the ensuing legal battle and trial, the final verdict, and the lasting impacts on those involved and public perception.
Introduction to the Robert Blake Case
Robert Blake: From Actor to Accused
Robert Blake is an American actor who starred in movies and TV shows like "In Cold Blood", "Baretta", and "Lost Highway". However, he became better known after he was accused and tried for murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001.
Blake had a long career in Hollywood as a successful child actor and adult star. But his personal life was turbulent, with multiple failed marriages. His reputation also suffered after the high-profile murder trial. Though eventually acquitted, the case transformed his public image from famous actor to suspected killer.
The Ill-Fated Union: Robert Blake and Bonny Lee Bakley
Robert Blake and Bonny Lee Bakley had a brief, tumultuous relationship before Bakley's murder. Bakley reportedly had a history of pursuing older celebrities and getting pregnant to gain child support. She moved to California and is said to have set her sights on the actor. After a DNA test confirmed Blake as the father of her baby, they married in 2000.
The marriage was troubled from the start. Blake reportedly felt tricked into it and resented Bakley. He was also suspicious she was still running scams on the side. Bakley told friends she felt Blake was dangerous and abusive. Tensions were high leading up to the fateful night of May 4, 2001.
The Night Bonny Lee Bakley Died
On the night of May 4, 2001, Robert Blake took Bonny Lee Bakley to dinner at Vitello's restaurant in Los Angeles. As Bakley waited in the car for Blake, an assailant shot her twice in the head, killing her. Blake told police he returned to find his wife dead in the car.
Suspicion soon focused on Blake. Two stuntmen came forward claiming Blake tried to hire them to kill Bakley. After a controversial trial, Blake was acquitted of murder but found liable in a civil suit for wrongful death. He filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and has maintained his innocence while living a low-profile life since.
How much money did Robert Blake have when he died?
Robert Blake had a negative net worth of $-3 million at the time of his death in March 2023, according to estimates. His finances and net worth took a major hit after he was accused of killing his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, in 2001.
Prior to the controversy and legal troubles surrounding his wife's death, Robert Blake's net worth was estimated to be between $10 million and $15 million. He had earned this wealth through his long acting career spanning over 60 years in film and television.
However, the costs of his high-profile murder trial and subsequent wrongful death lawsuit brought by his wife's family drained his finances over the years. While he was eventually acquitted of criminal charges in 2005, a civil jury found him liable for his wife's death in a later wrongful death suit, ordering him to pay $30 million in damages. This no doubt decimated his personal net worth over time.
Additionally, Robert Blake had difficulty finding steady acting work following the accusations, trials, and constant media attention, further impacting his income and ability to maintain his prior wealth.
So by the time of his death at age 89 in 2023, various reports indicated Robert Blake's net worth was assessed to be around $-3 million - a negative balance due largely to the financial and reputational damage from his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley's murder.
Where was Bonnie Lee Bakley shot?
Bonny Lee Bakley was shot in Los Angeles, California on May 4, 2001. Specifically, she was shot while sitting in a car outside Vitello's restaurant on Tujunga Avenue in Studio City.
Bakley had gone to the Italian restaurant that evening with her husband, actor Robert Blake. After dinner, Bakley stayed in Blake's car while he went back inside the restaurant to retrieve a gun he claimed to have left behind. When Blake returned to the car several minutes later, he found Bakley shot in the head. She was rushed to the hospital but died from her injuries.
The Los Angeles Police Department and prosecutors alleged that Blake shot Bakley himself with a .38 caliber Walther PPK pistol while sitting in the car with her. However, in Blake's 2005 criminal trial, his defense team introduced the theory that Bakley was killed by a hitman hired by someone from her checkered past. Ultimately, the jury acquitted Blake of murder, finding that reasonable doubt existed regarding his guilt.
While Blake was found not guilty in the criminal trial, he was later found liable for Bakley's wrongful death in a 2005 civil trial. A civil court jury concluded that Blake had most likely arranged for Bakley's murder and ordered him to pay $30 million in damages to her children. The case drew major media attention at the time due to Blake's celebrity status as a well-known film and TV actor.
How old was Bonnie Lee Bakley when she died?
Bonnie Lee Bakley was 44 years old when she died. According to the context provided, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department arrested actor Robert Blake for the murder of his wife, 44-year old Bonny Lee Bakley, on the evening of May 4, 2001.
Bakley married Blake in November 2000 after allegedly tricking him into believing she was pregnant with his child. Their relationship was described as tumultuous. On the night of May 4, 2001, Blake and Bakley dined at Vitello's restaurant in Los Angeles. After dinner, Bakley was shot and killed while sitting in their car, which was parked on a side street near the restaurant. Blake claimed he had briefly returned to the restaurant while Bakley waited for him, but prosecutors alleged that he killed her himself.
So in summary, Bonnie Lee Bakley was 44 years old at the time of her death on May 4, 2001 in Los Angeles. Her murder led to the arrest and prosecution of her husband, actor Robert Blake.
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How old was actor Robert Blake when he died?
Robert Blake died at the age of 89 on March 9, 2023 from heart disease in Los Angeles. He had a long acting career spanning over 70 years, first appearing onscreen as a child actor in 1939.
Blake was best known for his Emmy-winning role as Tony Baretta in the 1970s TV series "Baretta". He also starred in movies like "In Cold Blood" and "Lost Highway".
In his personal life, Blake was married twice and had two children. He made headlines in the early 2000s when he was accused and later acquitted of his second wife Bonny Lee Bakley's murder.
So when the veteran actor passed away in March 2023, he was 89 years old - nearing the age of 90 after a life and career full of ups and downs.
The Arrest and Trial of Robert Blake
The Arrest: Robert Blake and the Walther PPK Pistol
On May 4, 2001, actor Robert Blake was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, who was shot to death in Los Angeles a year earlier. Bakley was found shot in the head in Blake's car, which was parked near Vitello's restaurant where they had dined. Blake admitted to having possession of a Walther PPK pistol, the same model of gun used to kill Bakley, at the time of the murder. The arrest came after a lengthy investigation into Blake's alibi and actions on the night of the murder. Police alleged Blake either committed the murder himself or hired someone to kill his wife.
The Prosecution's Narrative in Los Angeles
During Blake's trial, prosecutors laid out a case arguing Blake was unhappy in his marriage to Bakley and wanted her dead. They claimed he lured her to Vitello's restaurant in Los Angeles under the guise of a romantic dinner, but arranged to have her murdered in the parking lot afterward. Key evidence included:
- Testimony from witnesses who stated Blake was angry and violent towards Bakley.
- Phone records showing Blake made a call around the time of the murder that the prosecution alleged was to the killer.
- The fact Blake returned to the crime scene with a weapon, contrary to his claim he left his pistol at home.
The prosecution asserted Blake had means, motive and opportunity to commit the premeditated murder.
The Defense's Counterarguments
The defense contended that there was no solid forensic evidence linking Blake to the crime scene or weapon. They also challenged the reliability of testimony from prosecution witnesses. The defense introduced alternative theories, suggesting Bakley was killed by others who had motive, including criminal associates from her past.
By establishing reasonable doubt regarding Blake's guilt, his attorneys argued the prosecution failed to definitively prove Blake directly killed his wife or that he conspired with someone else to commit murder.
Acquittal: Jury Delivers Not Guilty Verdict
After deliberating for over a week, the jury returned verdicts of not guilty of one count of murder and one count of solicitation of murder. The defense succeeded in showing reasonable doubt regarding Blake's direct involvement. While Blake was acquitted in the criminal trial, he was later found liable in a civil wrongful death lawsuit brought by Bakley's family and ordered to pay damages. However, he filed for bankruptcy and has not paid the judgment.
While the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley remains an open investigation, Robert Blake's high-profile court case in Los Angeles captured national attention, inviting comparisons to the O.J. Simpson trial. The verdict was a surprise upset for the prosecution but allowed the controversial actor, known for roles in In Cold Blood and Baretta, to walk free.
Life Beyond the Trial
The Wrongful Death Suit and Jury's Decision
After Blake was acquitted of criminal charges, Bakley's family filed a civil lawsuit against him for wrongful death. In 2005, a civil jury found Blake liable for her death and awarded Bakley's family $30 million in damages. The jury determined that Blake had "participated in, personally authorized and approved the conduct and plan to murder his wife."
While Blake was not criminally convicted, the civil verdict indicated that the jury believed he was responsible for orchestrating Bakley's murder, even if he did not physically pull the trigger himself. The multi-million dollar judgment against Blake was a significant financial blow.
Settling the Score: Blake's Appeals and Settlement
Blake appealed the civil judgment, but in April 2008, an appeals court upheld the original jury verdict. Blake continued to deny any involvement in Bakley's death. Over the next several years, his legal team pursued various appeals to try to overturn or reduce the judgment.
In 2012, Blake and Bakley's family reportedly reached a settlement where Blake agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve the case. While the terms were confidential, the reduced payment, combined with Blake's limited finances at the time, likely factored into the family's willingness to settle.
For Blake, the settlement finally provided closure on the long legal saga surrounding his wife's tragic murder. While he avoided further financial liability, the damage to his career and reputation had already taken its toll.
Robert Blake's Daughter and Her Journey
Throughout her father's trials, Blake's daughter with Bakley, Rosie, was shielded from the public eye. After the settlement, as a young adult, Rosie gave a few interviews sharing her perspective. She explained how she struggled with her mother's death and the allegations against her father.
Over time, Rosie came to accept her father's account of events and maintained a relationship with him. In later years, she pursued an acting career like her father rather than being defined by the tragedy in her early childhood. While the trial's outcomes had financial implications for her future, Rosie ultimately moved forward while still honoring her late mother's memory.
Media and Public Perception
The Robert Blake Documentary: Public Scrutiny Revisited
The 2020 documentary "Robert Blake: An American Dreamer" took a deep dive into Blake's life story and the murder trial, bringing renewed public attention to the case. It examined his difficult childhood, rise to fame, and tumultuous personal relationships leading up to Bakley's murder. The film presented both sympathetic and critical perspectives on Blake, exploring the complex public reactions to his alleged crime. Overall, it cast further scrutiny on the case and Blake's innocence claims years later.
Comparisons to the O.J. Simpson Case
Given its high-profile Hollywood nature, Blake's case invited comparisons to O.J. Simpson's infamous 1995 murder trial. Both centered on famous actors accused of murdering their wives in Los Angeles. Media coverage also focused on the legal "spectacle" and celebrity factor. However, while Simpson was acquitted in criminal court despite strong evidence, Blake was acquitted based on reasonable doubt regarding his guilt. Blake was later found liable in a civil suit, echoing Simpson's civil liability verdict. Overall, Blake's case came nowhere near the level of public interest and racial implications surrounding Simpson's trial.
Barbara Walters and the Exclusive Interviews
In a 2003 interview with Barbara Walters, Blake gave his side of the story on Bakley's murder. He professed his innocence and criticized the justice system. The interview gave Blake a platform to shape public opinion and drum up sympathy. However, Walters later interviewed Bakley's family, who condemned Blake and dismissed his interview claims. These exclusive interviews let Blake and the Bakleys battle for public favor, influencing perceptions of the case.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Robert Blake's Trial
Robert Blake's high-profile murder trial and subsequent civil case captured public attention in the early 2000s. While he was acquitted of criminal charges, the civil jury did find him liable for his wife's death. The case left a complicated legacy.
On one hand, the criminal verdict raised doubts about his innocence despite the acquittal. Blake's erratic behavior and history of violence led many to believe he was responsible for his wife's murder, even if the prosecution failed to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
On the other hand, the civil verdict demonstrated the difficulties in achieving legal justice even when a jury believes a crime occurred. Despite finding Blake liable, no further punishment or compensation resulted from the case.
Ultimately, Blake's trial spotlighted issues around domestic violence and power dynamics between celebrities and their partners. It also joined the ranks of other high-profile celebrity trials like O.J. Simpson's that captured public imagination and influenced popular culture. The case will likely remain an infamous, unresolved mystery in Hollywood's history.
