Blenda Gay
No. 68 | |
Born: | November 22, 1950 Greenville, North Carolina, U.S. |
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Died: | December 20, 1976 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 26)
Career information | |
Position(s) | Defensive end |
College | Fayetteville State University |
NFL draft | 1973, Round: Supplemental, Oakland Raiders |
Career history | |
As player | |
1974 | San Diego Chargers |
1975โ1976 | Philadelphia Eagles |
Blenda Glen Gay (November 22, 1950 โ December 20, 1976) was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played three seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles and is notable for his 1976 murder by his wife Roxanne.
Biography
Blenda Gay attended H. B. Sugg High School in Farmville, North Carolina. After high school, he attended Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There he started on the football team winning all-CIAA and Division II All-American.[1]
Gay was drafted in the 1973 NFL supplemental
In 1975, Gay was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles where he became a regular fixture on the
Murder
In December, 1976, Roxanne Gay cut her husband's throat as he slept, killing him. She was charged with the murder by the Camden County, New Jersey district attorney. Roxanne claimed that the attack on her husband was purely self-defense and alleged that her husband was extremely violent and abusive. Camden police indicated that she had made over 20 calls to the police in three and a half years. Neighbors claimed that after an Eagles' loss, Gay "bounced his wife off the walls".[5] His wife had signed a complaint against Gay after one hospital stay, but later dropped the complaint.[5]
The case became a
A panel of psychiatrists in a sanity hearing found that Blenda Gay had not abused his wife, and Roxanne Gay's attorney admitted there was no evidence that the beatings had occurred.[5] Ultimately, Roxanne Gay was determined to have schizophrenia and confined to the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital.[3] All charges were dropped.[5] She was released in 1980.[7]
Beginning in 1977, there was an annual "Gay Game" held each December. This ceased after the game in 1979.
References
- ISBN 0-7385-0593-5. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
- ^ Oakland Raiders Draft History, NFL.com
- ^ ISBN 1-59213-449-1. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ Philadelphia Eagles All-Time Stats, Philadelphia Eagles.com Archived March 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ISBN 0-8070-6775-X. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
- ISBN 0-8147-5577-1. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
blenda gay.
- ^ "Wife of Slain Football Player Gay Completes Psychiatric Treatment". Johnson Publishing Company. 1980. p. 47.
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