An Ohio high school wrestler accused of killing his ex-girlfriend during a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, reportedly locked himself in a room with her lifeless body for hours before stabbing himself in the chest.
According to Fox News Digital, 18-year-old Blake William Linkous was arrested by Horry County police earlier this month and charged with murder. He’s accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Natalie Martin, also 18, who was on a high school senior vacation in Myrtle Beach when Linkous allegedly strangled her to death.
Linkous was at a vacation rental home with the defendant, off Maison Drive in Myrtle Beach, when the incident occurred. Police said around five other people were in the residence at the time.
Natalie’s best friend, Brooklyn Ferrell, said the defendant emerged from the home on the morning in question with a stab wound to his chest, reportedly self-inflicted, according to what friends who witnessed the incident told her.
“At about 9 a.m., Blake came out, he had stabbed himself in the chest and everyone got up and was freaking out and asking ‘Where’s Natalie? Where’s Natalie?’” she said.
“It was way too late for that. She was cold and stiff.”
Two friends rushed into the property and found Natalie unresponsive in one of the bedrooms and immediately started CPR.
Linkous and Natalie had a fight the day before the incident, reportedly arguing about Natalie exchanging text messages with another male.
Later that evening, the group of friends went to a club, but Natalie said she felt ill and left early with the defendant. Two friends arrived back at the rental property around 10:45 p.m. and used the rear entrance when nobody responded to their knocks on the front door, Ferrell said.
Ferrell added that one of the male friends, once inside the home, heard three loud thuds and inspected the living room but found nothing unusual. He tried to open the room where Linkous and Natalie were sleeping but the door was locked.
Later that morning, Linkous emerged from the room, bleeding and speaking rapidly, shouting, “Natalie’s not waking up!”
Ferrell said that he spent several hours alone in the room with Natalie’s body.
The pair reportedly dated for several years until February, when they ended their relationship after Linkous allegedly assaulted Natalie in front of their friends at his house.
“He forcefully flung her across the room,” Ferrell said. “He persistently sought to reconcile and constantly apologized to her. He frequently messaged me, seeking advice on how to win her back.”
Linkous is now facing a murder charge and remains behind bars at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County. Court records show he has no bond.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been established to help loved ones with funeral expenses for Natalie.
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