Bonny Lee Bakley (leebonny) By: Gabby Sybert (No quote found)

Background Born in Morristown, New Jersey on June 7, 1956. She had 3 siblings and a half brother. Raised by and lived with her grandmother, Glen Gardner while her mother operated her business. Dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue modeling and acting in New York City. Studied at Barbizon School of Modeling. Married at 21 to first cousin and had two children with him. Divorced in 1982. Began sending nude pictures of women to men and ran “lonely hearts” ads to get a “male companion”. Asked for money from these men for rent and travel expenses, which allowed her to afford several houses in Memphis and a house in Los Angeles. She was unsuccessful in her singing and acting career. She had 10 spouses total. Had a total of 4 children.

Crimes: Crimes Date Victims Punishment Arrested for Drug Possession 1989 -Memphis Fined $300 Arrested for attempting to pass two bad checks 1995 Memphis Record Company Fined $1,000 and sentenced to work on a farm until she plea bargined* down to lesser charges Arrested for possessing 5 driver’s licenses and 7 social security cards with different names 1998 – Little Rock, Arkansas The people whose identities were stolen and used. Not listed Plea bargain: any agreement in a criminal case between prosecutor* and defendant* where defendant agrees to plea guilty to a charge in return for something from the procesutor. Prosecutor: chief legal representative of prosecution Defendant: person accused of a crime

Evidence against criminal Drug possession Passing bad checks 5 Driver’s Licenses and 7 Social Security Cards

Bonnie and Robert Blake Shortly after their affair began Bonnie told Robert she was pregnant but she was taking fertility pills to try to get pregnant so she can trap him into being with her. Named the baby, Christian Shannon Brando, because she listed the father as Christian Brando although it was Robert Blake’s child. Married in November 2000 and Bonnie moved in with him. In May 2001, Bonnie and Robert went to Vitello’s Italian Restaurant and after dinner Robert claimed to have left his revolver in the restaurant and he went back in to get it. Bonnie was found with a gunshot wound to her head and died in the front seat of the car. Robert Blake was later arrested and charged with the murder of Bonnie Lee Blakely. 36 hours later he was found not guilty for murdering his wife.

Anomie Theory Bonnie had a set goal to become a star because she came from a poor childhood and wanted the attention of stardom. She tried to become a model and singer but she couldn’t support herself. To support herself she went about it in a different way than society thinks. Society would say she should get a normal part time job to make enough money to support her and her family. But, she started up a mail order business sending nudes of women and ran a “lonely hearts” ad in magazines. When she got male companions from these ads she could ask them for travel money but she used this money on several new houses. She was very unsuccessful in trying to become a star. She then took other deviant routes from what society would say to do next. She didn't try to find a new career, she actually got arrested for several things while running her mail-order business. She was caught with drugs, she attempted to pass 2 bad checks, and she stole identities of different people. She used these stolen ID’s to start up new post-office boxes for her “lonely hearts” scam. Society would’ve said to find a new job to support yourself but she went about it in all the wrong ways because she was obsessed with fame.

Cultural References Book: Blood Cold By: Dennis McDougal Murder in Hollywood By: Gary C. King No Movies or TV Shows