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Amanda Blackburn: Three Arrested For Rape And Murder Of Pastor’s Wife

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 01:03 PST, Nov 23, 2015

UPDATE: Amanda Blackburn rape and murder suspect Larry Taylor faces 13 charges that include murder, burglary, criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, MSN reports. Murder and several related charges have been against another suspect in the murder of the pastor’s wife, 21-year-old Jalen E. Watson.

Amanda Blackburn rape and murder suspects have been arrested. An 18-year-old man has been captured by Indiana police and is being charged in connection in the killing of the pastor’s wife earlier this month.

Larry Taylor was arrested for allegedly raping and murdering Amanda Blackburn, according to a release by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Taylor was arrested after an investigation by the Indianapolis police department’s violent crime and gang units, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals office, Fox News reports. Prosecutors are currently reviewing the rape and murder case before making a final decision about which charges should be levied against Taylor.

Twitter post allegedly showing an image of Amanda Blackburn’s accused rapist and murder.

“We are thankful to our federal, state and local partnerships that aided in the apprehension of the suspect in this terrible and senseless crime,” IMPD Chief Rick Hite said in a media release. “All victims of criminal homicides deserve closure, and as a community we must send a collective message that violence is not an option. Our detectives have worked tirelessly going days without sleep to solve murders in our city.”

Jalen Watson and Diano Gordon have also been arrested as suspects in the Amanda Blackburn murder. All three of the men will reportedly be charged in multiple burglaries, and Taylor will be charged for the November 10 sexual assault of the pastor’s wife, the Indy Star notes.

Indianapolis police detectives believe the three men entered the unlocked Blackburn home while Pastor Davey Blackburn was working out at a local gym. Based upon the findings of their investigation, the police detectives also feel that Larry Taylor, Jalen Watson, and Diano Gordon confronted Amanda Blackburn when they quickly encountered her inside the home. The couple’s infant son, Watson, was sleeping upstairs during the murder and rape of his mother.

https://youtu.be/v1mi5lrdJTo

According to police statements, Larry Taylor allegedly remained inside the Blackburn home and raped and killed the pastor’s wife while Watson and Gordon took the Davey’s ATM card to withdraw money from the account. Detectives were reportedly able to link the rape and murder suspects to the killing through ATM receipts found inside of a car the trio of suspects had stolen earlier in November.

Crime lab technicians are currently analyzing a gun found in the yard of a neighboring home after the murder to determine if it is also linked to any of the Amanda Blackburn suspects.

In the video below, Pastor Davey Blackburn speaks out about pregnant wife’s murder.

Just three hours before the pastor’s wife was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, a nearby home had been burglarized. Electronics and other household valuables were stolen from the neighbor, according to a report by WTHR. Police have not yet connected the two home invasions, but the investigation into the murder and burglaries is still ongoing.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Amanda and Pastor Davey Blackburn moved to Indianapolis to start the Resonate Church in 2012. The couple had lived in South Carolina before relocating. Both Amanda and Davey where children of pastors.

The following is an excerpt from a statement by Pastor Davey Blackburn after the murder of Amanda.

“It’s impossible to communicate all the emotions my heart has been forced to process. My wife was such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God. I have not only lost my ministry partner and support but also my very best friend. There is no way to prepare yourself for circumstances like these.”

Amanda, 28, was 12 weeks pregnant at the time of the murder. More than 2,000 people attended a memorial service to pay their respects to the woman who was described as being very kind and loving.

[Image via Twitter]

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