An 18-year-old has been charged in connection with the slaying of an Indiana pastor’s pregnant wife.
Larry Jo Taylor faces 13 charges in connection with the Nov. 10 killing of Amanda Blackburn in what police believe to be a home invasion turned awry.
Taylor was arrested by detectives from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s violent crime and gang units. Prosecutors are reviewing the case and will announce the final charges against him.
Pastor Davey Blackburn, in a statement, said that he was “extremely relieved” by the suspect’s arrest but doesn’t “undo the pain we are feeling.”
Two other suspects, Jalen Watson and Diano Gordon, were arrested in connection with Blackburn’s death. The three will be charged in three other burglaries as well as a sexual assault.
“We are glad this part of the criminal justice process has concluded; however, the wheels of justice begin to turn now,” the Indiana Metropolitan Police Department told ABC News on Nov. 22. “Our detectives truly have worked several days without sleep putting all the pieces of this puzzle together.”
Detectives put together an account of the crime, saying that three men entered the Blackburn’s home, which was unlocked. They confronted Amanda after Davey left, Fox 59 reported. They said two of the suspects the left the home to withdraw money from his ATM card before Taylor raped her and shot her.
Their 15-month-old son, Weston, was in a crib upstairs when the crimes occurred, police said.
“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 statement. “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.”
Speaking with ABC News a few weeks ago, Davey talked about his wife.
He said, “It’s really hard to sort through all of the emotions of what we’re feeling about all this. We’re confused. We don’t understand why. We’re angry. We’re not really sure what to do.”
“Amanda didn’t have an enemy in the world. I can’t imagine any reason why. That’s why this has baffled us as much as anybody.”
“That’s why we’re trusting the investigators. They’ve been so good to us through this whole process, trying to keep us up to speed on what they have,” he added.
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