UNHOLY ‘KILLERS’
Two charged in home-invasion slay of pastor’s pregnant wife
INDIANAPOLIS — Two men were charged Monday with murder in the fatal shooting of a pastor's pregnant wife during an apparent breakin at the couple’s Indianapolis home.
Murder and several other charges have been filed against 21yearold Jalen E. Watson of Indianapolis and 18yearold Larry Jo Taylor Jr., who are codefendants, according to Marion County court records.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry held a Mondayafternoon news conference to announce criminal charges in Amanda Blackburn’s killing.
She was shot in the head during the Nov. 10 attack and died the next day.
Online court records show Taylor faces 13 charges that include mur der, burglary, criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Watson faces 10 charges, including murder, burglary, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and auto theft.
It wasn’t immediately clear if all the charges arose from Blackburn’s killing, or if they also include charges stemming from what police have said was the burglary of a nearby home shortly before she was attacked.
The couple’s 15monthold son, Weston, was at home upstairs in a crib at the time of the incident, but was not harmed.
Blackburn’s husband, Pastor Davey Blackburn, had gone to the gym that morning and returned home to find his wounded wife, who was 13 weeks pregnant at the time.
He released a statement on Monday saying,: “Though it does not undo the pain we are feeling, I was extremely relieved to get the news of the arrest made last night of Amanda’s killer.”
Blackburn said investigators have told him they have a “solidly built case.”
Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s gang and violentcrime units arrested Taylor with help from US Marshals, police said in a news release.
Details of Watson’s arrest were not available.
“All victims of criminal homicides deserve closure, and as a community we must send a collective message that violence is not an option,” Police Chief Rick Hite said in a statement. “Our detectives have worked tirelessly going days without sleep to solve murders in our city.”
Watson and Taylor were both being held at the Marion County Jail.
It wasn’t clear whether either man had an attorney to speak on his behalf.