Ronnie Radke
Ronnie Radke was born in Harlem, New York City. He was raised by his grandparents, Annabel and Alvin Radke. Growing up in a musical family, he learned to play the guitar at an early age and made himself quite adept with the drums and piano as well. As a teenager, he became known as a member of the graffiti taggers’ crew. After a spell in the underground he decided to go into music, performing solo at various clubs.
Ronnie Radke was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder another man over a dispute involving drugs. The conviction occurred while he was on parole. Radke is currently an American pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released several solo albums as well as collaborations including one with the rapper Lil Kim.
On July 12, 2021, Ronnie Radke was released from prison after serving a combined twelve years of hard time. While inside the penal system, he was also convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, armed robbery, grand theft auto, burglary, arson, drug possession, drug trafficking, domestic violence, sex trafficking, and criminal street felony charges. As a result of his sentence, Radke was required to be on probation at the federal penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
On the morning of October 8, 2021, Ronnie Radke was found dead in his cell in the federal penitentiary. autopsy reports indicated that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Though police initially believed that Radke killed himself because of anger over missing money owed to him by the rapper’s accountant, records showed that Radke threw three microphone stands off of a bridge into Lake Lanier, resulting in the drowning of two persons who were swimming nearby.
During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Radke had been booked on several occasions for battery, assault, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, grand theft auto, trespassing, impersonating a police officer, possessing marijuana and heroin, resisting arrest, identity theft, forgery, possession of cocaine base, grand theft, burglary, hit and run, and assault and battery. Additionally, during an interview with Detective Richard Shuey, Radke initially denied any previous relationship with the victims, telling the detective, “I don’t have a past. I don’t do drugs or anything like that. All my friends are family. I’m not an addict or anything like that.”
According to the Smoking Popcorn Review, several other people that were close to Radke including former Cash-for-Chill singer Michael Shelton, singer-songwriter Darci Braldo, and former Hole member Tommy Lee are “fuming” over the incident. Additionally, Radke’s grandmother, Bridget Lytle, claimed in an interview with CNN that she had a feeling something was wrong with her grandson the day before his death. The grandmother, however, didn’t want to take any medication or go to the hospital, opting instead to bury her grandson. Radke’s death was ruled a suicide. Many of the details of the case remain unclear as the investigation is ongoing.
