Delay in trial of man suspected in killing three relatives in Cole Camp
By Kathee Baird
There has been another delay in the trial of a man accused of killing three relatives back in June of 2009.
The capital murder trial of Robert Blake Blurton was scheduled to begin this October, but it has been delayed until October of 2012 at the request of the defense and the state.
Blurton is accused of robbing and gunning down his aunt and uncle, Sharon and Donnie Luetjen and their 15 year-old daughter Taron in their Cole Camp home on June 7, 2009.
Jury selection is slated to begin October 5th in Clay County where the case was moved on a change of venue.
Witness Who Listened To Cole Camp Murder 9-1-1 Call Says, “It Was Robbie”:
Ten days after the murders, police interviewed an unidentified person, who listened to the audio recording of the 9-1-1 call.
“After hearing the recording the unidentified person was asked by Sheriff Fajen if (person) recognized the male voices. The (person) shook their head in an affirmative manner. Each time (the person) listed to the recording, (the person’s) lower lip began quivering and (the person’s) breathing rate increased,” according to the police records. “(The person) was then instructed to listen to the recording at a lower speed. When (the person) listened to the recording … (the person) removed the earphones and said … it was Robbie.”
“Robbie” is allegedly Robert Blurton, the nephew of Donnie and Sharon Luetjen, who has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his relatives.
The probable cause statement says, “Blurton told investigators he had not physically seen Donnie or Sharon since the night before he went to prison in 2003,” according to the records.
Investigators state in the probable cause statement that Robert Blurton lived with the Luetjens at 802 Elm Street before he went to prison in 2003. “Based on his living with the Luetjens, he would have knowledge of their habits and mannerisms. He would have knowledge of the Luetjens possessions and monies Donnie and Sharon might have stored or concealed inside the residence and shop.”
Investigators believe that Blurton knew where, “weapons, firearms and artifacts were kept in the house.”
Although authorities believe that robbery appears to have been the motive in the Luetjens deaths, it appears that Donnie Luetjens valuable Native American artifacts and Civil War memorabilia were still in the home….money and weapons appear to be the only things missing, according to the report.
During the course of the investigation cops interviewed Robert Blurton’s brother, Marvin “Travis” Blurton. He told investigators that his brother may have owed money to inmates he associated with while in lockup. Travis Blurton told cops that he was contacted in June by an inmate who had served time with his brother who was attempting to locate “Robbie.” Travis Blurton told cops that, “his brother Robbie has some pretty shady friends that would be worth checking out.” He also provided investigators with two cellular telephone numbers.
Investigators interviewed Robert Blurton several times during the course of the investigation, according to the Probable Cause Statement. “During these interviews, Robert Blurton gave several different stories as to his whereabouts during the time of the homicides. On one of the interviews Robert unable to give us a verifiable account of where he was at or what he was doing at the time of the homicides.”
One of Robert Blurtons alibis is that, “he spent Monday night following the Luetjen murders at the Economy Inn in Garnett, Kansas, because of a disagreement between him and (redacted name.) The argument and eventual motel stay took place the evening following the murders.”
Robert Blurton has a pretty extensive criminal history that includes twelve felony convictions. A source says that Betty Blurton, Sharon Luetjens sister and the mother of Robbie Blurton, asked her sister shortly before her death several years ago to look after Robbie when he got of jail. The Luetjens helped Robbie Blurton, “get a vehicle and a place to live when he got out,” according to the source.
Authorities believe that at least one other person is involved in the Luetjens murders and today (06-30-09,) the Rural Missouri Major Case Squad reconvened and are following up on tips that have come into law enforcers over the last three weeks.
Blurton, is being held in the Allen County, KS, jail on a three million dollar cash only bond and is fighting extradition to Missouri.
UPDATE (07-05-09): The Cole Camp police department did NOT send an officer out to follow up on the lost 9-1-1 call on June 7th. The department utilizes Phase One technology, that only lets dispatchers know what cell phone tower is nearest to the originating call.
Phase Two technology pinpoints calls using GPS coordinates.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.











Send To A Friend













