Natalie Martin.Photo:GoFundMe
GoFundMe
The alleged incident occurred last month while Natalie Martin, 18, and Blake Linkous, also 18, were on a post-graduation trip in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The teenagers had just graduated from Philo High School in Duncan Falls, Ohio last month, according to reports.
Horry County Police Department found Martin unresponsive in a rental room and later arrested Linkous, charging him with murder, Fox Newsreported.
Natalie Martin and Blake Linkous.Natalie Martin Facebook; Horry County Police Department
Natalie Martin Facebook; Horry County Police Department
Anobituarysaid Martin “had a life-long love for softball and soccer” and worked locally as a childcare provider, forming “many special bonds” with the children under her care.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.“Natalie lived her life to the fullest with joy, laughter, and love,” according to her obituary. “She brought true happiness to all that knew her. She had a free, pure and wild spirit with a contagious laugh, a personality out of this world that could bring anyone out of their darkest of days.”
Investigators haven’t determined what led up to the killing, but Brooklyn Ferrell, the friend who started the fundraiser for Martin,toldThe Sun Newsthat Martin and Linkous had been dating for several years but broke up earlier this year.
A funeral was to be held Wednesday morning in Duncan Falls, according to her obituary.
“Natalie’s beauty shined like a ray of sunlight and her smile could brighten a whole room,” the memorial read. “Her glowing blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes represented that she was truly an angel here on Earth.”
source: people.com
