• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

High school grad murdered during senior trip to Myrtle Beach, ex-boyfriend arrested

Natalie Martin was strangled to death, according to the county coroner's office.

Natalie Martin (GoFundMe)

Natalie Martin (GoFundMe)

June 9, 2023
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A recent high school graduate who was on a senior trip to Myrtle Beach was murdered in her hotel room on Tuesday. The girl’s ex-boyfriend, who was also on the trip, was taken into custody, according to authorities.

Natalie Martin, 18, of Roseville, Ohio, was identified Friday by the Horry County Coroner’s Office as the murder victim. She was reportedly strangled to death. The teen graduated from high school last month and was on a senior trip to Myrtle Beach when she was killed, Yahoo News reported.

Another teen from Ohio was taken into custody and charged with the girl’s murder. He was identified as 18-year-old Blake William Linkous, of Blue Rock, Ohio. He was arrested by the Horry County Police Department and booked at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center Friday. He is being held without bond, reported The Sun News. 

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Linkous strangled Martin Tuesday. The coroner’s office said Martin was found unresponsive in her hotel room on Maison Drive.

Martin and Linkous were students at Philo High School in Duncan Falls, Ohio. They had been a couple for several years until they broke up earlier this year, according to Brooklyn Ferrell, one of Martin’s friends. They were both on the senior trip to Myrtle Beach after graduating May 26. Ferrell said the two remained friends even after they split up.

Tributes to Martin have saturated her social media network, Yahoo News reported.

Ferrell established a GoFundMe account to help pay for Martin’s funeral expenses. It had raised more than $27,000 as of Friday afternoon.

Brooklyn Ferrell, left, is shown in a photo with her friend Natalie Martin. Ferrell has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral costs of Martin, who was killed Tuesday in Myrtle Beach.
Brooklyn Ferrell, left, is shown in a photo with her friend Natalie Martin. (Image via Yahoo News)

Superintendent Kacey Cottrill with the Franklin Local School District said the senior trip was not a sanctioned school activity.

However, Myrtle Beach is a common destination for graduating seniors in area schools, according to Philo High School Principal Troy Dawson.

The principal said they received word of Martin’s death on Thursday. The school district will have counselors available for students though Tuesday of next week, he said.

“We are looking for best ways to help our kids,” Dawson said on Friday. “There isn’t a manual that tells you the best way to handle these things. It’s hard for us to wrap our head around.”

Cottrill added, “It’s pretty much devastating for all of us.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Brooklyn FerrellHorry CountyHorry County Coroner's OfficeHorry County Police DepartmentMyrtle BeachNatalie MartinPhilo High SchoolTroy Dawson
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

retired law enforcement officers

Retired law enforcement officers help active duty detectives with cold case investigations

December 13, 2022
Brittanee Drexel

Remains of teen found 13 years after going missing, suspect arrested

May 17, 2022
Sheridan Wahl

Missing Florida woman found dead in South Carolina

September 26, 2021
retired police lieutenant

Suspect arrested for murder of retired police lieutenant

April 2, 2020
police lieutenant

Law enforcement authorities hunt for killer of 38-year retired police lieutenant

March 8, 2020
Load More

Latest Articles

Valentina McKenzie

Minnesota Freedom Fund chair charged with fentanyl possession

September 28, 2023
Bridgette Matthews

Alabama woman arrested for cold case murder of a father who texted ‘HELP’ before disappearing

September 28, 2023
missing Colorado mother

Remains of missing Colorado mother found more than three years after disappearance

September 28, 2023
Pava LaPere

Massive manhunts ends with arrest of man for murder of Baltimore tech CEO

September 28, 2023
Meng Vang

Police say hallucinogenic drugs a possible factor in double murder-suicide

September 28, 2023
Mark Dial

Murder charges dismissed against Philly officer involved in fatal shooting with Eddie Irizarry

September 27, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com