Amanda Blackburn updates: Two men charged with murder; source gives police horrifying account

We are so grateful for the way that people are stepping up to support the Blackburn's during this grieving time. We have...

Posted by Resonate Church on Friday, November 13, 2015

Days after Amanda Blackburn was killed at her home, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office announced on Monday, Nov. 23, that two men have been arrested and charged of the crime. 

Larry Taylor, 18, and Jalen Watson, 21, have been charged with the murder of Amanda, the wife of Indianapolis pastor Davey Blackburn. They are also facing other federal charges for three homes that they have burglarized on Nov. 10. A third suspect, 24-year-old Diano Gordon, was arrested on a parole violation but was not charged with Amanda's murder as he reportedly didn't enter the house. 

An affidavit reveals that Davey, a pastor for the Resonate Church, left home at around 6 a.m. to go to the gym and upon his return saw his wife, who was 12-weeks pregnant at the time, face down on the floor and covered in blood. The couple's 15-month-old son was still safe in his crib. 

A CNN report outlined the crime spree that Taylor, Watson and Gordon embarked on that day. Based on information provided by a "cooperating individual," the three men broke into one home in the Sunnyfield Court area and stole a laptop, an iPhone and a 2007 Chevrolet Sebring that the suspects later used as their getaway vehicle. The house had surveillance video and when they found out about it, Taylor allegedly wanted to kill the occupant but was talked out of the idea.

The trio then proceeded to another home where they stole several televisions, a laptop, a Tiffany pearl necklace and a pink sweater that later became significant to the case. They then proceeded to the third house, which was the Blackburns' home.

Court documents alleged that the men didn't plan to kill the 28-year-old Blackburn. According to the documents, Taylor hit Amanda with his gun and got her bank cards. Watson and Gordon then tried to withdraw money from it and was said to have communicated with Taylor several times as he was left behind with Amanda. 

The "cooperating individual" alleged that Watson and Gordon wanted to leave Taylor behind after they got money from Amanda's card but stated that Taylor threatened to kill Amanda if they didn't come back for him. 

An affidavit made by the unnamed individual stated that Taylor later told his accomplices that he killed Amanda. He was said to have described how Amanda charged at him so he shot her in her upper body to avoid being scratched. Taylor also told them that he leaned over the body, shot the victim in the back of the head and watched her bleed. 

The charges against the three individuals came after two weeks of investigation that saw police use DNA testing and phone tracking. Watson's DNA was found on the pink sweater they took as he used it to cover his face. 

Her husband released a statement that he's relieved by the arrest.  

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