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CNN Live At Daybreak

LAPD Arrests Actor Robert Blake

Aired April 19, 2002 - 06:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we want to give you more on Robert Blake's arrest. Here is reporter Jonathan Elias (ph) of CNN affiliate KCBS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN ELIAS, CNN AFFILIATE KCBS REPORTER (voice-over): Just after 5:00 this evening, police officers from LAPD showed up in force to Robert Blake's daughter's home in Hidden Hills, where he has been living. There, they handcuffed the actor and took him away.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are here today to announce that the Bonnie Lee Bakley case is solved. At 5:30 this afternoon, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department robbery homicide division arrested actor Robert Blake.

ELIAS: Also arrested today in connection with this case, Robert Blake's handyman and bodyguard, Earle Caldwell. The charge? Conspiracy to commit murder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe we have an excellent case. We are very proud of the case.

ELIAS: Bonnie Lee Bakley was shot to death in Robert Blake's car last year. Blake, early on, was considered a prime suspect, and in the year since the killing, detectives have sifted through 150 different clues, 900 pieces of evidence, and they have met with 151 different witnesses, not only here, but all across the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Detectives spent time in over 20 states since this investigation started. No other case in the department history has required such an extensive travel.

ELIAS: And tonight, detectives say they have ruled out any other suspect in the killing of Bonnie Lee Bakley. Investigators do say that Blake tried hiring two different people to kill his wife, but both said no. So they say that Blake did it himself, and they say they even have the motive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe the motive is that Robert Blake had contempt for Bonnie Bakley. He was in a -- he felt that he was trapped in a marriage that he wanted no part of, and quite frankly, the entire situation was not one of his liking at all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That was Jonathan Elias of KCBS in Los Angeles. We thank him for that report.

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