Gazette, The (Colorado Springs): Russian roulette death ruled suicide by county coroner

A rape suspect committed suicide while playing Russian roulette at a party last weekend, the El Paso County Coroner ruled Saturday.

It took a week to figure out whether 18-year-old Blake D. Robinson shot himself once in the head accidentally or intentionally. The final ruling came after toxicology tests and other evidence was examined.

Police said the teenager was at a party at a house on the 2500 block of East Bijou Street when he started playing with a revolver while dancing with friends. The fatal shot came just after midnight Jan. 31, police said.

Robinson was suspected along with his stepfather, Sidney Blake, 38, in the Jan. 30 abduction and rape of a Colorado Springs woman. Sidney Blake is being held without bond in the El Paso County jail on investigation of the rape and for violating parole conditions related to an earlier conviction.

Police said the woman was held at knifepoint and repeatedly raped by two men during 14 hours before she was locked in the trunk of her car and abandoned. The woman escaped and sought police. Blake was arrested Feb. 3.

Robinson shot himself with a revolver stolen from the victim, police said.