Clues in Robert Blake Case
April 25, 2002 -- The Robert Blake case is not only a real Hollywood murder mystery. It also opens a window into the wildest side of Hollywood — the strange cast of characters who make their living by living on the edge as stuntmen.
Sources tell Primetime that three different stuntmen told police they were approached by the former Baretta star about killing his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
One of those was Gary McClarty, whose stunt work earned him the title of "the King of Bash and Crash." In the movies, McLarty did dangerous work for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. In real life, too, he had once killed a fugitive in self-defense.
Now 60, McLarty refused to talk with Primetime about his relationship with Blake or the slaying of Bakley. But Chrissie Paola, McLarty's friend and former employee, says McLarty told her that Blake lured him to his home on the promise of a job.
The job, says Paola, was: "Let's get rid of Bonny."
According to Paola, Blake offered McLarty $10,000 to kill his wife. "And [McLarty] said, 'You're out of your mind. It's not worth it,'" says Paola.
Bobby Bass, a stuntman who sources say Blake also allegedly tried to hire as a hitman, died last fall. But homicide investigators found a third stuntman, Ronald "Duffy" Hambleton, who sources say will testify that Blake tried to hire him to kill his wife.
Hambleton — nicknamed the "Tazmanian Devil" for his stunt work — declined to speak with Primetime.
Deciphering Reality in Hollywood
Blake's attorney, Harland Braun, questions the credibility of McLarty and Hambleton, who may testify against his client.
"Reality and truth are different in Hollywood," Braun says. "The question would be: 'Well, if they said that to you, why didn't you call the police? Why didn't you call the victim?' So these people are generally very unreliable people."
Braun says there are others who may have wanted Bakley dead, such as the men she allegedly scammed in her Internet sex schemes.
But the prosecution says Blake and his bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, were preparing for murder. Their evidence includes a shopping list featuring a shovel, gun, acid, lye and duct tape.
According to Braun, Caldwell claimed he was doing construction work for Blake. "Many things look suspicious and there can be an innocent explanation," Braun says.
Also, the murder weapon is a crucial piece of evidence. Though Blake has not been connected to the murder weapon, he is a collector of guns and the weapon at the scene of the crime was a vintage World War II gun.
Police have not indicated whether they found any fingerprints on the gun, but the serial number on it had been filed off. Police performed an extremely sensitive test for gunshot residue — called a GSR test — on Blake's hands. But even the high-tech process could not conclusively prove that Blake fired the murder weapon because just handling a gun can leave residue, and Blake admits carrying a gun that night.
'Eliminating' a Business Associate
So his past pattern of behavior becomes much more crucial. And according to Bakley's brother, Joe, Blake felt him out about "eliminating" a business associate in Mexico. Joe Bakley, a self-described drug smuggler and an ex-convict, says that although Blake never used the words "kill" or "murder," his intentions were clear.
"Five thousand up front and he said you'd never have to worry about anything the rest of your life," says Joe Bakley. "No doubt about it that he wanted me to get rid of somebody."
Joe Bakley says Blake dropped the plan. Months later, after his sister's slaying, Bakley says he went to authorities. He says he took lie detector tests and passed them.
But Braun asks why Joe Bakley didn't call the police after Blake first allegedly confronted him. And, the victim's brother admits that he has every reason to try to nail Robert Blake. "Oh definitely," he says. "I hope they fry him."
Blake will be back in court next Wednesday when the judge will set a date for a preliminary hearing, which will determine whether there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.