Ernest Terrell Blakney: Child abuser allegedly kills ex and sets home ablaze 10 DAYS after judge lets him out on bond
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: A Wisconsin man who recently pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges is now accused of killing his ex-girlfriend just days after a judge denied a request from prosecutors of keeping him in jail until his sentencing hearing. Apart from killing his ex-girlfriend, the prosecutors are also accusing him of setting his house on fire. The ex-girlfriend was found dead with gunshot wounds.
The prosecutors are now holding Ernest Terrell Blakney, 47, responsible for the death of Nikia Rogers, 36, on August 25. After Milwaukee police and fire departments responded to 'house fire' calls around 4.30 am, they discovered a homicide victim which was Rogers on the second floor of the home. The autopsy revealed Rogers died from bullet wounds to her back and head and hence her death was ruled a homicide, reports Fox 6. A criminal complaint that talks about the fire state four possible origins of the same - the detached garage, the basement, the first floor, and Rogers' body. The police recovered lighter fluid and her body was found with severe consistent burns.
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A man was questioned by the investigators on the scene who had been acquainted with Blakney and he revealed that he referred to Rogers as a crazy woman and that he was moving out of the house. A few minutes after emergency crews were called to the fire on August 25, the man received a call from the person on the other end, saying, "You should have left her alone." The man replied "Excuse me," to which the person who called replied, "She dead." The witness, aware of his middle name, said, "This Terrell?" The number answered, "Yes." Blakney and Rogers reportedly lived together and there were several vehicles registered in Blakney's name but the one named under Rogers was missing.
The criminal complaint also mentions a witness who recognized Blakney from a photo said he saw him at around 5 am and said he was "In the woods" and said he was "Sorry." He did not explain the reason. After 30 minutes, Blakney showed up at the witness' house soaking wet and bleeding. He then changes his clothes and threw his old clothes that the police later retrieved. It's further stated that Blakney did not say anything apart from "She made me do i." He eventually ended up saying, "I shot her." The witness later added that Blakney also had a gun.
Blakney is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, attempted mutilating a corpse, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony bail jumping, and false imprisonment.
Blakney was previously charged with second-degree sexual assault and was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in 2020. He pleaded guilty to the sex charge and was convicted on August 15. Prosecutors requested that Blakney be remanded and placed in jail after pleading guilty, but Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski denied the motion, allowing Blakney to remain out of jail. Rogers was murdered just 10 days after the judge declined to place him in jail until an October 20 sentencing hearing.