Suvechha Sarkar
The quiet community of Montclair, New Jersey, was shaken to its core in October 2018. Angela Michelle Bledsoe was a devoted mother and a hardworking woman, but she was found brutally shot in her home. What followed was an international manhunt, a complex legal battle, and her family’s relentless search for justice. ABC’s ’20/20: Diary of a Killer’ focuses on the investigation and the shocking revelations found in the shooter’s own words. It also features emotional interviews with her loved ones, the officials who worked on the case, and expert analysis that helped in the conviction of the person responsible for her death.
Angela Bledsoe’s Life Revolved Around Her Family and Career in Finance
Angela Michelle Bledsoe was born on February 11, 1974, to Ray and Gaynelle Bledsoe. She grew up in a loving household surrounded by the affection and support of her parents. She was also close to her sisters, Diedre and Lisa, and her brother, Ray Gardner. Angela completed a degree in Business from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). During her time at the university, she was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and a part of the student government association. After graduation, she remained involved with the university’s community through the FAMU National Alumni Association. Angela stepped into her professional life as a Financial Analyst and moved to New York, where she worked for Securities America. She ultimately bought her own place and settled down in Brooklyn.
Angela brought her financial and organizational expertise as the Treasurer for the FAMU Alumni Association New Jersey chapter. Apart from being a parliamentarian for the association, her major accomplishment included organizing a breakfast fundraiser that raised $700,000 within a few hours to support scholarships. Moreover, Angela volunteered with the Delta Sigma Theta chapters in Montclair and Brooklyn. She even served as a “cookie mom” with the Northern New Jersey Girl Scouts. In Brooklyn, she crossed paths with James R. Ray III, who offered her a job at his Insurance Brokerage Firm. While working, they developed feelings and began dating, but shortly after, Angela learned he was married. However, they continued the relationship and welcomed their daughter, Alana, into the world in 2012.
Angela Bledsoe Was Found Shot in Her Home in New Jersey
After James’ wife moved out, Angela and Alana moved in with him at his residence on the 300 block of North Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey. However, her life turned upside down on October 22, 2018. Around 1:17 am the following day, authorities received a call for a welfare check on Angela. When they reached the scene, they found her deceased on the kitchen floor. They found a Springfield 9mm gun on that floor in a pool of blood, but it had no blood on the weapon’s surface. They also retrieved another Springfield 9mm from the coffee table in the living room. Furthermore, there were two .22 caliber guns and two 12-gauge shotguns alongside a gun cleaning kit and a couple of gun cases.
Detectives noticed a fallen clock in the kitchen sink with the time stopped at 11:15, which indicated that it might’ve fallen during the shooting. Angela’s mobile phone was placed carefully on a stool, and it reportedly had blood on it. Moreover, they noted blood and a projectile embedded in the couch and a .45 caliber shell casing on the kitchen floor. Officials reportedly found three more .45 caliber shell casings placed in the gun box on the coffee table, which appeared to have been deliberately moved to stage the scene. There was also a trail of blood leading from the living room to the kitchen. Investigators discovered that one shot was missed, and she was shot three times, once each to the chest, back, and head. The autopsy reportedly determined her cause of death to be from the gunshot wound.
A Letter and a Tumultuous Relationship Pointed Officials to the Killer
Detectives first focused on James Ray, Angela’s live-in boyfriend. They learned that he picked up six-year-old Alana from school and, in the evening, arrived at a steakhouse to meet his family members. In the parking lot, he reportedly asked his brother, Robert Ray, to look after Alana for 24 hours, and they exchanged her two suitcases. When James suddenly left the location, Robert followed him and found the former’s home dark. After taking Alana to his home, Robert shockingly discovered two checks in the luggage along with a letter, in which James claimed to have shot Angela in self-defense when she allegedly picked up his gun and threatened him. So, Robert called 911 after reading the letter. However, by the time the officials began investigating, James had already fled from the scene.
Officials soon discovered from Angela’s sister, Lisa, that the former had told her that James was controlling and criticized her. They reportedly learned that he grew suspicious and found out from her text messages that she reconnected with her former friend, Bakari Burns, and they got into a relationship. He reportedly called and threatened Bakari after finding out about the relationship. It was indicated from Angela’s text messages to James that she was done with the relationship with James. She reportedly wanted to move out and take Alana with her. On the other hand, the analysis of the forensic experts discredited James’ claim that Angela pointed a gun at him and he shot her, allegedly in self-defense. That was because they found no fingerprint on the gun lying near her. Moreover, the absence of blood on its surface, despite lying in a pool of blood, indicated that the weapon was later moved.
Angela Bledsoe’s Killer Passed Away Before the Formal Sentencing
Further investigation revealed that after picking up Alana from school on October 22, 2018, James told a friend he was upset that Angela planned to take their daughter. Unable to track him down, authorities issued a red notice (international warrant). They received information that he could take a flight to Mexico. Hence, they put an All-Points Bulletin (APB) on him, including alerts if he attempted to board a plane. They soon learned that he took a flight to Mexico City, and officials then knew that he booked a flight to Havana, Cuba, where he was taken into custody immediately. On October 31, 2018, federal agents arrested him in Cuba, and by November 6, he was brought to the US and taken into custody.
James was charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Upon checking his bag, detectives discovered an 18-page handwritten journal by him. In the journal, he claimed that on October 22, after dropping Alana at school, he and Angela spoke on the way back home when she got emotional. He alleged that she went to run some errands later, while James allegedly took out his guns to clean them since he was alone at home. He claimed that he went to the bathroom, and when he came out, he allegedly saw her sitting with a gun in her hand, while speaking about how bad their relationship was. James continued that he kept eye contact with her while reaching for a gun to protect himself and shot in her direction once.
In the journal, James reportedly claimed that he thought he missed the shot and ran to the bathroom. He claimed that after coming out, he followed a trail of blood to the kitchen, where she allegedly again lifted her arm with the gun, and that was when he shot her multiple times. His jury trial began on March 29, 2023, and he was convicted on all three charges in May 2023. He was reportedly facing 30 years to life in prison, and his sentencing was scheduled for June 22, 2023. However, on June 18, he was found unconscious in his Essex County Correctional Facility cell and was later pronounced dead on the same day. Thus, James was never formally sentenced, despite his conviction.
Read More: Where is Angela Bledsoe’s Family Now?
