2 charged with murder in killing of pastor’s wife

INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities charged two men with murder Monday in the fatal shooting of a pastor’s pregnant wife during a home invasion that happened after the minister left the couple’s Indianapolis home without locking the front door.

Amanda Blackburn, 28, was found in a pool of blood on her living room floor. She died one day after the Nov. 10 attack on Indianapolis’ northwest side.

Her husband, Pastor Davey Blackburn, told police he had left the home’s front door unlocked when he departed about 6 that morning to go to the gym and returned home about 8:20 a.m. to find his wounded wife. The couple’s 15-monthold son, Weston, was at home upstairs in a crib but was not harmed.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry identified the two men charged with murder as Larry Jo Taylor Jr., 18, and Jalen E. Watson, 21, both of Indianapolis, who face murder, burglary, theft and several other charges. A probable cause affidavit says that Taylor shot Blackburn three times, including once in the back of the head.

Watson also faces a murder charge because Blackburn was killed during a burglary in which prosecutors allege that he was involved.

It was not clear whether Blackburn, who was 13 weeks pregnant, had been sexually assaulted even though she was found partially nude, Curry said.

“The investigation will continue, including any further forensic analysis that’s appropriate or ongoing,” he said.

Watson and Taylor were both being held Monday at the Marion County Jail.