15 June 2023 , 08:12
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A teenager is accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend to death while she was on a high school graduation trip.
Blake Linkous is accused of killing Natalie Martin, 18, while she was staying with friends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Linkous allegedly attacked Natalie on June 6 and he was arrested on June 8.
Natalie was found dead in her hotel room and police were called. EMS was on the scene but police were told she was already dead.
The Criminal Investigations Department took over the investigation and a report says "suspicious circumstances were detected".
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Both teens had graduated from the Philo High School in Duncan Falls, Ohio on May 26.
Blake Linkous (Horry County Police Department)Linkous is now being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bond, records show, after he was arrested by the Horry County Police.
"Blake William Linkous did with malice aforethought cause the death of Natalie Martin," the incident report says. "The defendant did so by manually strangling the victim."
Philo High School Principal Troy Dawson said: "We're hurting. It's a tragedy. We are just shocked with disbelief.
"She was well-liked by her classmates and teachers and was very sweet and very funny... I'm shocked that this would happen to anybody by anybody."
A tribute to Natalie said she brought 'happiness' to people (Instagram/Megan Dingey)Reports say Natalie enjoyed playing football and softball at school. Outside of school, tributes to Natalie said she could hunt, fish and "wrangle snakes" and even "gut and skin a deer better than most grown men".
She also worked as a childcare provider.
"She brought true happiness to all that knew her," a tribute in the local paper read. "She had a free, pure and wild spirit with a contagious laugh, a personality out of this world that could bring anyone out of their darkest of days.
"Her glowing blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes represented that she was truly an angel here on Earth."
Natalie's friend Brooklyn Ferrell started a GoFundMe for the funeral expenses. It has already doubled its target of $15,000 with over $31,000 raised already so far.
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