Blake Linkous, an Ohio man sentenced to 45 years for murdering his ex-girlfriend Natalie Martin in Myrtle Beach, recently filed a post-conviction release petition in Horry County, South Carolina. He claims guilt only for “the situation, not the charge,” stating he pleaded guilty to spare Martin’s family further pain despite planning to argue for manslaughter. The petition, filed on December 23, 2025, seeks his release while asserting he aims to prove he is “a better man.”​
Case Background
Linkous, then 18, strangled 18-year-old Martin on June 6, 2023, during a high school graduation trip at a Maison Drive home in Myrtle Beach. Prosecutors described him as controlling, insecure, and jealous after their breakup, triggered by her texting another boy. He had no prior criminal record but faced 30 years to life; he pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025, just before trial, receiving 45 years with no parole eligibility.​
Petition Details
In the filing, Linkous wrote he felt “too guilty for the victim’s family” and took the plea to avoid prolonging their suffering. He now challenges the conviction, possibly under South Carolina’s post-conviction relief process for claims like ineffective counsel or involuntary pleas. No hearing date or judge’s response is reported yet.​
Legal Context
South Carolina post-conviction relief petitions allow challenges to convictions within one year of sentencing or appeal finality, often citing constitutional violations. Success rates are low for guilty pleas without strong evidence of coercion or new facts. The case drew attention due to the teens’ youth and the trip’s context.
