Angela Bledsoe’s daughter, Alana, was six years old when her father, James R. Ray III, shot and killed her mother at the family’s Montclair, New Jersey home on October 22, 2018. Alana was at school when the shooting happened. Since her mother’s death, she has been raised by Bledsoe’s family — her aunt in Florida during the school year and her maternal grandparents in Maryland during the summer.
Who Alana Is
Alana was born around 2012 to Angela Bledsoe, a financial adviser and Florida A&M University graduate, and James Ray III, a New Jersey lawyer and former U.S. Marine and NYPD officer.1CBS News. James Ray III Dead, Lawyer Convicted of Killing Girlfriend Angela Bledsoe The family lived together on North Mountain Avenue in Upper Montclair. By the fall of 2018, tensions between her parents had escalated, and Bledsoe had told Ray she was ending the relationship and planning to move out.2ABC News. NJ Mom’s Murder Leads to International Manhunt With Unforgettable Twist
Where Alana Was on the Day of the Murder
On the morning of October 22, 2018, Bledsoe dropped Alana off at school and returned home for a meeting with a realtor about moving out.3People. Lawyer Convicted of Killing Girlfriend Dies in Custody Prosecutors said Ray shot her in the chest, face, and back.4NJ ECPO. Montclair Lawyer James Ray Convicted of Murdering Mother of His Child
That afternoon, Ray picked Alana up from school. He drove her to a New Jersey restaurant and left her there with his brother before fleeing the state.4NJ ECPO. Montclair Lawyer James Ray Convicted of Murdering Mother of His Child Her mother’s body was not discovered until nearly midnight, when Montclair police forced entry into the home after Ray’s brother reported what Ray had told him. Bledsoe was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 1:17 a.m. on October 23.5NBC New York. Montclair Homicide New Jersey
Who Has Raised Alana Since
After Bledsoe’s death, her family divided Alana’s care between two homes. Her aunt, Lisa LaBoo, took custody of her in Florida during the school year. Her maternal grandparents, Ray and Gaynelle Bledsoe, cared for her at their Maryland home during the summer.6NorthJersey.com. Montclair’s James Ray Murder Trial Set to Begin on Wednesday Lisa LaBoo and her husband Christopher LaBoo have also helped lead the family’s public efforts to honor Angela’s memory.7NJ.com. She Was Loved: NJ Woman Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend Will Live On Through College Endowment
Alana’s Appearance on 20/20
In December 2023, ABC’s 20/20 aired a two-hour special on the case. By then Alana was eleven, and she was among the family members interviewed for the program. The special also included analysis of the 18-page handwritten journal Ray kept while on the run, which he titled “On the Move.” Forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland described the writing as “very calculated” and said it showed no remorse.8People. Angela Bledsoe Killing New Jersey Mom ABC Special
What Happened to Alana’s Father
After leaving Alana at the restaurant, Ray withdrew cash from a local bank, drove through the Southwest, crossed into Mexico, and flew to Cuba, arriving on October 28, 2018.9Miami Herald. New Jersey Lawyer Captured in Cuba After Allegedly Killing Girlfriend An Interpol Red Notice had been issued for his arrest, and Cuban authorities detained him before he could clear customs. He was handed over to U.S. authorities on November 6, 2018, and taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.10NBC News. New Jersey Lawyer Captured in Cuba After Allegedly Killing Girlfriend
Ray’s trial began in March 2023 in Essex County Superior Court. His defense claimed Bledsoe had picked up a 9-millimeter handgun and pointed it at him, leaving him “no choice but to shoot.”11CBS News New York. James Ray Trial Opening Statement Bledsoe’s family rejected that account, saying she had no familiarity with firearms. In May 2023, the jury found Ray guilty of first-degree murder and weapons offenses, and he faced a potential life sentence.1CBS News. James Ray III Dead, Lawyer Convicted of Killing Girlfriend Angela Bledsoe
He never received that sentence. On June 18, 2023, Ray was found unconscious in his cell at the Essex County Correctional Facility. A sergeant administered Narcan, and he was taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at age 60.12CBS News New York. James Ray III Dies in Jail The medical examiner was tasked with determining the cause of death. Because he died before sentencing, no appeals or post-conviction motions were filed.13New York Times. James Ray, Montclair, Dead
The Scholarship in Her Mother’s Name
Alana’s grandparents, Ray and Gaynelle Bledsoe, together with Lisa and Christopher LaBoo, announced the Angela M. Bledsoe Endowed Scholarship at Florida A&M University in June 2019.14Montclair Local. Scholarship Montclair NJ The family initially set a goal of raising $100,000 to endow the fund, with plans for a plaque in FAMU’s School of Business and Industry and another at the university’s eternal flame monument.7NJ.com. She Was Loved: NJ Woman Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend Will Live On Through College Endowment By February 2021, Lisa LaBoo and the FAMU National Alumni Association were working toward a nearer-term goal of $25,000.15FAMU National Alumni Association. The Angela Bledsoe Endowment Scholarship The endowment is managed by the FAMU Foundation and supports students at Angela Bledsoe’s alma mater.16FAMU National Alumni Association. Support the Angela M. Bledsoe Endowed Scholarship