Episode 19: The Murder of Angela Bledsoe

Montclair is one of the wealthiest suburbs in NewJersey. Very progressive with very little crime. That is until October 2018 when police receive a chilling call. This call led police to the home of Angela Bledsoe and James Ray III. Angela was discovered, deceased on the kitchen floor. Angela, a very successful financial advisor lived with her boyfriend James, a very successful lawyer on North Mountain Avenue in Montclair with their daughter. James was nowhere to be found. This investigation led the FBI on an international manhunt to detain James. When they finally do locate him, an 18-page journal was found on him detailing the horrific murder. Did Angela truly lose her life in a case of self-defense as he claims? Or did something more sinister occur?

 

Sources:

"Death In Suburbia"  on Killer Cases, Season 4, Episode 11 on Hulu November 24, 2023

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196499613/angela-michelle-bledsoe

"NJ Mom's Murder Leads to International Manhunt and an Unforgettable Twist" by Claire Lempert and Sami Wanderer in ABC News on December 8, 2023
(https://abcnews.go.com/US/nj-moms-murder-leads-international-manhunt-unforgettable-twist/storyid=105357095#:~:text=Angela%20Bledsoe%2C%20a%20New%20Jersey,at%20his%20insurance%20brokerage%20firm.)

"After an International Manhunt, a NJ Man Never Received a Sentence for Killing Girlfriend" by Juan Carlos Castillo in the Asbury Park Press on December 8, 2023
(https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/12/08/james-ray-iii-never-served-a-sentence-for-the-murder-of-angela-bledsoe/71853298007/)

"'It Seemed Like I Couldn't Stop Firing': Killer's Diary Gives Disturbing Insight into N.J. Mom's Murder" by KC Baker in People on December 8, 2023
(https://people.com/angela-bledsoe-killing-new-jersey-mom-abc-special-8413553)

"Montclair Murderer James Ray III Found Dead in Jail" by Julia Martin in The North Jersey Newspaper on June 19, 2023
(https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/montclair/2023/06/19/james-ray-iii-convicted-of-montclair-murder-found-dead-in-jail/70335743007/)

"Suspect in Slaying was Sued in 2013 for Sexual Harassment" by Keidu Ortiz in The Montclar Times on October 25, 2018

"Monclar Homicide has a Global Twist" by Julia Martin in The Montclair Times on November 15, 2018

"Murder Suspect Found in Cuba" by Rodrigo Torrejon and Julia  Martin in The Record on November 8, 2018

"Lawyer Facing 30 to Life for Murdering his Girlfriend Dies in Custody" on AP News June 19, 2023 (https://apnews.com/article/girlfriend-murder-james-ray-angela bledsoe-6e7931a1b840b5e09d9e53014df15cc3)

"ABC to Air ‘20/20′ Segment on N.J. Lawyer James Ray Murder Case"  by Richard Cowen, NJ Advance Media on December 8, 2023 (https://www.nj.com/essex/2023/12/abc-to-air-2020-segment-on-nj-lawyer-james-ray-murder-case.html)

"Opening Statements Begin in Trial of James Ray, New Jersey Attorney Charged with Murdering his Girlfriend in 2018" by Alice Gainer in CBS News on March 29, 2023 (https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/james-ray-trial-opening-statement/)

"Diary of a Killer"  on ABC 20/20, Season 46, Episode 9 on Hulu December 8, 2023