In my strange, demented way, I think we're all murderers.

That was the actor Robert Blake.

On a news program in 1993, talking about a topic that movie-watching Americans might have

expected from him.

Murder.

Blake was, after all, the award-winning actor known for his leading role in the 1967

True Crime film, In Cold Blood.

The film was adapted from Truman Capote's nonfiction book about killers who murdered a family

of four.

Blake was also known for his title role in the late 1970s detective show, Beretta.

So hearing Blake speak about murder was expected.

Talking about murder was kind of Robert Blake's thing as an actor.

But in 2001, murder became more than a talking point for Blake.

In May 4, 2001, when he was 67 years old, Blake took his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley out for

dinner.

They went to an Italian restaurant in Studio City, California.

After dinner, they walked to Blake's vehicle.

He had parked on a nearby side street.

When they got back to the car, Blake said he realized that he had forgotten his pistol

inside the restaurant.

So he went back to get it while Bonnie Lee waited in the car.

And the time it took Blake to walk to the restaurant and back, a tragedy occurred.

...