Robert Blake’s maid has ripped the lid off the bizarre life of the actor and his murdered wife Bonny Lee — and for the first time discloses what went on behind the closed doors of the star’s estate.
In an exclusive ENQUIRER interview, Lidia Benavides — who worked for Blake for the past two years — divulged that the macho star treated Bonny like his personal sex slave and wouldn’t even let the maid clean the guesthouse where he forced Bonny to live.
What’s more, although Blake claims a man was stalking Bonny in the days before her grisly murder, the housekeeper never saw any such individual — and Blake never mentioned it to her.
Breaking her silence, Lidia told The ENQUIRER, “Robert and Bonny’s marriage was anything but normal. There were no hugs, kisses, hand-holding or other signs of affection.
“I think it was a purely sexual relationship and that they were forced to stay together because of their baby.
“I never saw Bonny in Robert’s house — nor any sign that she spent any time in the main house.
“When I did Robert’s laundry, I never washed any of Bonny’s clothes. He made Bonny take care of herself. He didn’t want me to clean the guesthouse, either.
“When I first met Bonny, I went up and introduced myself — but she ignored me like I wasn’t even there. I guess she thought she was too good to talk to me. She was very arrogant and tried to make me feel insignificant.”
Lidia revealed that the couple’s baby, born on June 2, was rarely at Blake’s Los Angeles house and was cared for mainly by Blake’s oldest daughter Delinah, who lives in the posh Los Angeles community of Hidden Hills. Although the 12-month-old girl’s name is Rose, Blake nicknamed her Roxie, says Lidia.
“One day I asked Robert, ‘Why don’t you have your baby daughter live with you?’
“Robert said, ‘Lidia, I’m a single parent and I need help raising her. Bonny won’t even change Roxie’s diapers. For half of the baby’s life, Bonny wasn’t even in the same state as Roxie. She was back in Memphis or traveling somewhere.’ “
Truly in love with the infant, Blake was busily making plans to care for the girl at his residence, disclosed Lidia. “He had a nursery built for little Roxie in his house. And at the time Bonny was murdered, Robert was interviewing nannies to care for Roxie.
“Bonny really wasn’t a good mother. I’m a mother, and I don’t know how a mother can let someone else raise her baby daughter. But that’s what Bonny did. She didn’t seem to care much for Roxie. I think she saw the baby as her ticket to fame and fortune.”
Lidia also revealed:
“Robert’s hair is very important to him. I was shocked one day when I saw the price tag on the shampoo he uses — $50!”
The actor also keeps in shape. “He works out in his weight room, then takes an afternoon nap. He eats very healthy, only organic foods, fruit, vegetables, pasta and meats.”
Lidia says that Blake keeps a large gun collection, but she believes most of them are fake guns used in TV shows and movies that he’s appeared in.
“Robert’s guns are mostly replicas and fake. He also has a large BB gun collection he keeps in the house.
“One day I had to open his nightstand drawer a bit in order to clean it. When I opened it, I saw a pistol!”
Apart from his gun hobby, Robert lives very simply, disclosed the maid.
“His house is clean, especially for a single man, but by no means elegant. There isn’t any marble flooring or posh entertainment center.
“He’s decorated it with movie paraphernalia, things from his ‘Our Gang’ series and his film ‘Red Ryder.’
“His front room is very simple — with a couch, a 26-inch TV, and a few chairs. Pictures of his family adorn the walls. His bedroom is large but not extravagant, with a queen-sized bed. Stacked next to his bedroom VCR, he has about 50 videos, from action movies to old ‘Our Gang.’
“His kitchen is clean and has the basic appliances but needs some updating.”
Lidia says the last time she was at Blake’s house was the Tuesday after Bonny’s May 4 murder.
Police searching the home found writing scrawled on the wall that read: “I’m not going down for this,” according to early reports.
Not true, says the 48-year-old mother of two daughters and a son.
“There wasn’t any writing on the walls and the place was normal on the inside. Everything was the same as it always was.”
She did not, however, look inside the guesthouse where Bonny lived.
“I don’t know who killed Bonny,” says Lidia, “but I just can’t believe Robert would do such a thing. I pray for him. And I really feel bad for that little baby girl.
“I’m praying for her, too.”
— ALAN BUTTERFIELD
