The Traumatic Childhood of Robert Blake's Daughter: Coping with the Murder of Her Mother and the Unwanted Fame

Rose Lenore Blake was just weeks shy of her first birthday when her mother, Bonny Lee Bakley, was shot and killed in 2001. Bakley's husband, actor Robert Blake, was charged with her death and stood trial. While he was acquitted in 2005, the case left a traumatic impact on their daughter's life. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life of Rose Lenore Blake and how she coped with her mother's murder and the unwanted fame that came with her father's trial.

The Murder of Bonny Lee Bakley

Bonny Lee Bakley, a 44-year-old mother of four, was shot and killed in Robert Blake's car, which was parked near an Italian restaurant where the couple had just dined near their home in Studio City, California. Blake was charged with her murder, but he maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

Rose Lenore Blake grew up without her mother, who was fatally shot when she was just a few weeks old. Her father's trial and the media scrutiny surrounding the case made her childhood traumatic. She spoke with PEOPLE in 2019 about navigating through life without her mother and the unwanted fame that came from her father's trial.

Coping Mechanisms: Antianxiety Medication, Therapy, and Close Friends

Rose Lenore Blake struggled with severe anxiety and depression as she coped with the grief of losing her mother and her father being blamed for it. She took antianxiety medication and often went to therapy. However, she found a safe haven with her close friends, who weren't "attached" to the trauma she had experienced.

Rose Lenore Blake had a turning point when she visited her mother's grave for the first time at 18. She took another step and contacted her father, whom she had been estranged from for years. Although it was a lot to handle, Blake was respectful when she asked him to stop talking about her mother's death.

Refusing to Take Sides: Rose Lenore Blake's View on Her Father's Guilt or Innocence

Rose Lenore Blake refused to take sides when it came to her father's guilt or innocence. She believed it was useless to have an opinion about it and that it would only trouble her. Instead, she chose to see both sides for what they are and not overwhelm herself with it.

Rose Lenore Blake was happily living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and their two cats in 2019. She wanted to take control of the narrative surrounding her life and set the story straight. Although she was far from living a perfect life, she was doing the best she could and was not miserable every day.