Front Page Detectives
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS

Secret Police Files: ‘Baretta’ Star Robert Blake Turned His Back On Dying Wife Bonny Lee Bakley

robert blake tested guns wife bonny lee bakley murder
Source: BSA/ZOJ/MANDATORY CREDIT: WENN/NEWSCOM/THE MEGA AGENCY

March 10 2023, Published 5:15 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

The day Bonny Lee Bakley, the wife of Baretta star Robert Blake, was found shot dead, the actor was heard test-firing a gun at their home, according to evidence obtained in the case.

Blake died on March 9 at his home from heart disease.

Article continues below advertisement

After Bakley's death, her sister, Margerry Bakley, claimed she was on the phone with her sister while Blake was testing his gun.

"She even cried out in terror as she told me, 'He's coming to kill me,'" Margery recalled.

The situation grew even more strained when gunshots “set off the burglar alarm,” Margerry said. “As the alarm was loudly wailing, Bonny was running around her guesthouse, in the back of Blake's property, frantically locking all the doors so he couldn't come in and shoot her.”

According to Margerry, Blake was out “testing his gun to make sure it was working properly" and she thought "he didn't want it to misfire when he put it to Bonny's head in the car where she was killed."

MORE ON:
Murder
Article continues below advertisement

The day Bonny was murdered, Margery said she believed Blake wanted to send her sister a message.

"When Bonny went downstairs in her guesthouse, there was a sleeping bag neatly laid out at the bottom of the stairs. Robert had unrolled it. He knew she was familiar with all his films and knew of a scene in a TV movie he did, Judgment Day: The John List Story. In the movie, Blake executed his mother, his wife, and his three children — then placed them in sleeping bags," Margery explained. "I believe Blake knew Bonny would get the message: 'Back off on trying to take my daughter from me, or I'll kill you.'"

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

Margerry admitted she was “still terrified" of the actor, who went on trial for murder last year.

Following a three-month trial, Blake was acquitted of murder and found not guilty of one of the two counts of solicitation of murder. The second solicitation of murder charge was later dropped.

Advertisement

Become a Front Page Detective

Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.

More Stories

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.