Amanda Blackburn's death: What we know
Amanda Blackburn "What We Know".
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
EDITOR'S NOTE: One year has passed since Amanda Blackburn, the pregnant wife of an Indianapolis pastor, was fatally wounded Nov. 10, 2015 during a home invasion robbery.
UPDATE MONDAY NOV. 23. 2015: Two men are facing murder charges and a slew of other felonies in connection with the death of Amanda Blackburn, prosecutors announced at a press conference Monday afternoon.
Jalen Watson, 21, and Larry Taylor, 18, have been charged with murder, along with felony burglary, theft, robbery, auto theft and other felony counts.
A third man, Diano Gordon, 24, has been accused in earlier burglaries.
Prosecutors said Blackburn was shot in the head during a burglary attempt in her Northwestside home.
Court documents allege the suspects tried to make several withdrawals using Blackburn's credit card.
What happened to Amanda Blackburn?
Emergency crews arrived at the Blackburn residence in the 2800 block of Sunnyfield Court around 8:30 a.m. the day of the shooting. Davey Blackburn had discovered his wife, who was 12 weeks pregnant with the couple's second child, in critical condition. She died two days later, and her organs were procured for donation.
Amanda and Davey Blackburn with their son, Weston.
USED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE RESONATE CHURCH
Police were initially tight-lipped about the circumstances behind the killing. Several days later, they said they believe the 28-year-old woman's killer was tied to a burglary that happened shortly before the slaying at a house two doors down. Investigators said they believe the suspect saw Davey Blackburn leave his house and seized an opportunity to burglarize another home. A neighbor reported hearing shots about 35 minutes after Davey left.
Investigators said the suspect did not forcibly enter the Blackburn home.
Who killed her?
Before police arrested Watson and Taylor in connection with the killing, officials released neighborhood surveillance footage which captured images of the person they believe was responsible. Two images from that footage, taken from the camera system of a home on Sunnyfield, were released to the public:
One of two surveillance photos of suspect in Amanda Blackburn killing released by IMPD.
IMPD
The man in the photos was described by police as being between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall with a slim-to-medium build. He was wearing light-colored pants and a two-toned hoodie.
Said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide Capt. Craig Converse: "We know who killed her; at least we have a picture of him. We don't know the name."
Police later confirmed they questioned suspects and were holding them on unrelated charges.
In the days since, reports also have surfaced of a gun being found near the Blackburn home, though it remains unclear whether the gun was used in the killing. Police said a man delivered the gun to a fire station in Broad Ripple claiming to have found it by the couple's house. The gun is being analyzed by crime lab technicians.
Who are the Blackburns?
The Blackburns moved to Indianapolis two years ago and founded a new place of worship they called the Resonate Church. The religious organization is tailored to young people, a message made clear in the weekly videos the couple posted to their website about relationship advice, resolving conflicts and what the Bible says about sex.
Previously, the Blackburns lived for four years in South Carolina, where Davey Blackburn was an assistant pastor at NewSpring Church. That church now sees more than 30,000 worshippers every Sunday.
28-year-old Amanda Blackburn died after being shot during an apparent robbery at her home. Her husband is the pastor at Resonate Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.
USA TODAY
The couple met on a blind date at a concert by the Christian band Hawk Nelson. They were attending different colleges at the time. The day before he went back to school, they had a milkshake drinking contest.
"You shot milkshake out of your nose," Davey said in one of the couple's sermon videos, looking at Amanda, "and that's when I knew that I had met the girl I was going to marry."
The Blackburns have a toddler son named Weston. Amanda was pregnant with the couple's second child when she was killed.
Who's paying attention to the case?
The Blackburn case has attracted significant interest across the country, with coverage appearing in national and international media outlets like ABC News, Fox News and the Daily Mail.
On Nov. 17, Davey Blackburn spoke out for the first time about his wife's death, appearing in a nationally televised interview on Good Morning America.
"Amanda didn't have an enemy in the world," Blackburn told GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos. "This has baffled us as much as anybody."
The casket of Amanda Blackburn, the 28-year-old pregnant woman murdered in a home invasion last week, sits near the stage for a memorial service honoring her at Traders Point Christian Church in Whitestown, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. About 2,000 people attended the event.
DOUG MCSCHOOLER/FOR THE STAR
Closer to home, Amanda Blackburn's death has resonated with thousands, including the state's top executive. Her funeral at Traders Point Christian Church in Whitestown was attended by more than 2,000 people. Gov. Mike Pence was among them.
What could happen to her killer?
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said at Monday's press conference that prosecutors would look into whether an enhancement could be filed in connection with Blackburn's pregnancy.
Legal experts say the woman's pregnancy could enhance any chargesthe suspect would face.
A state statute passed in 2009 significantly expanded the types of penalties state prosecutors can consider in cases where a pregnant woman was injured or killed and her pregnancy was terminated in the process.
For example, an enhancement can add six to 20 years to a convicted murderer's prison sentence if the murder victim was pregnant. Murder by itself is already punishable by 45 to 65 years in prison. In certain murder cases, the crime can also be punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
We're hearing a lot about this case. But how violent is Indy otherwise?
The Blackburn case is only the latest slaying to garner significant attention in a year that is already on pace to be one of the bloodiest in recent memory. Through Monday, officials have recorded 134 victims of criminal homicide, a number only one below the total recorded in 2014. Last year was the deadliest year since 2006.
Of those killings, about 60 are still unsolved.
Deadly incidents aren't the only problem Indianapolis is facing. The city has seen a 22 percent jump in nonfatal shootings over the past year.
Officials have blamed the uptick in violent crime on a combination of drugs, gangs, illegal guns, poverty and mental illness.
Star reporters Michael Anthony Adams, Madeline Buckley, Gabby Ferreira, Justin Mack and Vic Ryckaert contributed to this story.
Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.
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Photos: Amanda and Davey Blackburn
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Indianapolis' deadliest year. The correct year, 2006, is now listed in the story.
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