On a cold January evening in South Bend, Indiana, the life of 43-year-old Michelle Lee Blankenship was tragically cut short. On January 4, 2015, she was found shot to death in an apartment building on East Calvert Street. Another individual, 46-year-old Robert J. Duke, was also found deceased at the scene, the victim of a double homicide that shook the community.
The hours that followed the discovery of the two victims were tense, as law enforcement began their investigation into the
brutal slayings. It was not long before a suspect was identified and apprehended. Roy Lee Walker, who was acquainted with both Blankenship and Duke, was taken into custody in connection with the murders. The acts did not appear to be random, as police indicated that Walker and the victims were familiar with one another.
Following his arrest, Walker's behavior was described as erratic. He was found with a rope around his neck and reportedly confessed to the crimes, telling officers, 'I did the crime. I did crazy things. I am ready to go, so take me. I just want some peace.' Further investigation revealed the harrowing details of that night. According to court documents, Walker had also attempted to shoot a neighbor, but the gun failed to fire. He was also seen naked and armed with a screwdriver, threatening another individual before fleeing in a victim's car.
Roy Lee Walker was subsequently charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Michelle Blankenship and Robert Duke, one count of attempted murder, and residential entry. The case brought a swift, though somber, resolution for a community grappling with the violent loss of two of its own. Michelle Blankenship, described as a happy and loving person who never met a stranger, had worked as a manager at various restaurants, most recently at King Gyro's Restaurant in South Bend. Her unexpected and violent death left behind a grieving family, including two sons and three grandchildren.
