The Case of Natalie Jane Martin (USA)

Natalie Jane Martin, 18, had recently graduated from Philo High School in Roseville, Ohio, when she travelled with friends to the Myrtle Beach area to celebrate. On June 6, 2023, Natalie and her former boyfriend Blake Linkous returned to their holiday accommodation after an evening at the House of Blues. Following an argument, Linkous strangled Natalie. Her friends discovered her body the following morning. Linkous pleaded guilty to murder in March 2025 and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Natalie Jane Martin was 18 years old and from Roseville, Ohio. She had recently graduated from Philo High School and was described by people who knew her as energetic, adventurous and full of life. Natalie enjoyed playing soccer and softball, hunting, fishing, shooting, gardening and working with animals. Her obituary described her as having a contagious laugh and a free-spirited personality. She had been in a relationship with Blake Linkous for several years. The relationship ended in early 2023 following an incident in which Linkous reportedly shoved Natalie during an argument. Although they had broken up, Natalie and Linkous remained friends and were part of the same group travelling to South Carolina for their graduation celebration. The trip was intended to be a celebration of their recent high-school graduation.

On June 6, 2023, Natalie and the group attended an event at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach. Afterwards, Natalie, Linkous and another member of the group returned to the accommodation on Maison Drive. According to the prosecution's account presented in court, Linkous became angry after seeing Natalie texting another young man. An argument followed. Linkous then manually strangled Natalie inside a bedroom. Natalie's phone stopped being used at approximately 10:17 p.m. She was not seen alive again. Linkous remained inside the bedroom with Natalie's body for several hours. The following morning, other members of the group became concerned about Natalie. When the bedroom was eventually accessed, Natalie was found unresponsive on the floor. Emergency services were called, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Horry County Coroner determined that Natalie had died from strangulation.

Horry County Police responded to the Maison Drive property on June 7, 2023, after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman. The circumstances immediately raised concerns and the Criminal Investigations Division took over the investigation. Investigators spoke with people who had been staying at the property and reconstructed the events of the previous evening. Evidence and witness statements led investigators to identify Blake Linkous as responsible for Natalie's death. An arrest warrant stated that Linkous had manually strangled Natalie, causing her death. Linkous was arrested on June 8, 2023, and charged with murder. During the investigation, Linkous gave statements to police and admitted strangling Natalie. Investigators also established that Natalie and Linkous had been in a relationship before the trip but had broken up several months earlier. The case attracted significant attention because Natalie had been killed during what was supposed to be a celebration of her high-school graduation. Linkous remained in custody before later being released on bond under strict conditions while awaiting trial.

Blake Linkous was scheduled to stand trial for Natalie's murder in March 2025. On March 3, 2025, the day his trial was due to begin, Linkous instead pleaded guilty to murder. The court sentenced him to 45 years in prison. He is not eligible for early release under the sentence. In December 2025, Linkous filed a post-conviction petition seeking to have his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter. He argued that the killing was not intentional or premeditated. The filing did not overturn his conviction, and he remains imprisoned under the 45-year sentence.

Natalie's death occurred only days after she graduated from high school, during a trip that had been planned as a celebration with friends. Her family and friends later spoke about the loss of a young woman whose life had only just begun. Friends also described the relationship with Linkous as having involved behaviour that had become increasingly concerning before their separation.