Arrest In Shooting Death Of Indianapolis Pastor's Pregnant Wife

<p>Police here have arrested a man in the shooting death of a pastor's pregnant wife during an apparent home invasion.</p>

Monday, November 23rd 2015, 8:11 am

By: News On 6


Police here have arrested a man in the shooting death of a pastor's pregnant wife during an apparent home invasion.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced in a news release early Monday that 18-year-old Larry Taylor, of Indianapolis, has been arrested on a preliminary charge of murder in the death of 28-year-old Amanda Blackburn. Officers from the department's gang and violent crime units arrested Taylor, with help from U.S. Marshals.

Police Chief Rick Hite said in the release that the department is thankful to its federal, state and local partnerships that aided in the arrest.

Blackburn, the mother of a toddler, was shot November 10 inside her home and later died at a hospital. The mother of a toddler had recently had announced she was pregnant.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Taylor has an attorney.

CBS Indianapolis affiliate WTTV has learned two other suspects are also in custody, and that Blackburn was raped.

Sources tell WTTV the suspects will also be charged in three more burglaries and another rape.

The station says two of the suspects, Jalen Watson and Diano Gordan, are being held on parole violations. Taylor, had been taken into custody and released but was re-arrested Sunday night at a relative's home, according to police.

Sources say a fourth person who was aware of the rapes, robberies, burglaries and murder, but didn't participate, was questioned and released.

Detectives pieced together an account of the men entering the Blackburn home, which was unlocked, and confronting Amanda Blackburn, who was awaiting the return of her husband, Davey, from an early morning workout.

While two of the suspects left with Blackburn's ATM card to retrieve money, a source told WTTV, Taylor raped and killed Amanda.

ATM receipts were found in the vehicle, and detectives gathered evidence linking the suspects to the use of Blackburn's credit card, WTTV says.

A gun has also been recovered, the station adds.

At least one of the suspects is cooperating with detectives, WTTV says.

Sources told WTTV detectives also collected evidence linking the trio to a previous rape and robbery at an apartment complex where they were living until early this month.

After they moved, detectives believe, two of them were captured on surveillance video burglarizing a neighbor's apartment. A silver Chrysler Sebring was stolen from that location. Investigators later found DNA linking the suspects to that case.

The trio will also be charged with a burglary earlier that day at the home of a Blackburn neighbor.

Surveillance video also depicts at least one of the suspects on foot in that community.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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