A Wisconsin man who was out on bail after pleading guilty in mid-August to sexually assaulting a minor in 2020 is now accused of killing his ex-girlfriend days after a judge denied a request to hold him in jail while awaiting his sentencing, according to authorities.
Ernest Terrell Blakney, a 47-year-old fugitive and convicted pedophile, is being accused by prosecutors of fatally shooting Nikia Rogers on Aug. 25 and then setting his Milwaukee home on fire, according to a criminal complaint.
Milwaukee police and fire officials jointly responded to a “house fire” call shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 25, and while attempting to extinguish the blaze, authorities discovered a body, later identified as Rogers, inside the home.
An autopsy conducted by Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak confirmed that Rogers actually didn’t perish in the blaze, but because of gunshot wounds to the head and lower back area. Following these findings, her death was ruled a homicide.
“Tlomak determined that the victim had suffered a total of four gunshot wounds caused by two different bullet wounds to her body,” prosecutors said in the complaint.
Investigators learned that Rogers lived at the residence with Blakney. A witness, identified only as JWB, told police that the victim tried to leave Blakney over the past two weeks because she thought he was “crazy” and was “moving her things out of the house.”
JWB, who has known Rogers for at least seven years, told investigators that he talked with her via text message to check on her, a day before she was found dead. Rogers responded that she was “okay” physically, but not mentally, adding that she needed some time alone.
On Aug. 25, JWB received a text message from Rogers that said: “you should have left her alone” and “she [is] dead.” JWB responded to the message by asking if it was Blakney sending the text. He then received a message back that said, “yes.”
A second witness, identified only as CDJ, told police that Blakney appeared outside his home on Aug. 25, “breathing heavily” and “soaking wet,” confessing that he had killed Rogers and burned down the house because she was trying to move out.
CDJ saw that Blakney was holding a “black semi-automatic weapon” and also noticed blood on his hands. He attempted to calm Blakney, who was repeatedly telling him that “he does not deserve to live” and was going to kill himself.
After CDJ talked to Blakney for more than an hour, trying to get him to turn himself in to the police, he went to use the restroom, and when he returned, Blakney was no longer in the home.
Blakney pleaded guilty on Aug. 15 to charges of second-degree sexual assault and has been accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl in 2020, Fox News reported. He posted $5,000 cash bail and was released from jail in November 2021, the complaint states.
Prosecutors and the family of the young girl requested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski to remand the convicted child rapist and keep him in jail after pleading guilty, but the judge denied the motion and he remained free on the $5,000 bail that was originally posted.
“As the defense points out, there have not been any violations or any issues while the defendant has been out of custody. He’s been out of custody for a very long period of time,” Borowski said according to a transcript of the hearing obtained by news agency WISN. “The defendant will stay out of custody. He does not need to be remanded under these circumstances.”
Blakney was due in court for sentencing in late October.
Authorities haven’t arrested Blakney after he allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend and are asking anyone with information to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224 – Tips or use the “P3 Tips App” to remain anonymous.
Police said a black Infiniti SUV was missing from the home he burned down.