Indiana

Amanda Blackburn slaying: Two men charged with murder

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The latest in the case of an Indianapolis pastor’s wife who was slain earlier this month (all times local):

2:50 p.m.

A decision hasn’t yet been made whether the death penalty will be sought against the two men facing murder charges in the death of an Indianapolis pastor’s pregnant wife.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said Monday his office will review evidence in the coming weeks and meet with the family of 28-year-old Amanda Blackburn before making a death penalty decision.

Curry announced murder, burglary and other charges against 18-year-old Larry Jo Taylor Jr. and 21-year-old Jalen E. Watson for the Nov. 10 attack during which Blackburn was fatally shot.

She was 13 weeks pregnant at the time, but Curry says he hasn’t determined yet whether to pursue charges related to the death of the fetus.

2:35 p.m.

A prosecutor says DNA testing points to one of the men charged in the death of a pastor’s pregnant wife as the person who was later recorded as using her stolen bank card.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said Monday that DNA testing was a big break in the investigation that resulted in murder, burglary and other charges being filed against 18-year-old Larry Jo Taylor Jr. and 21-year-old Jalen E. Watson.

Both men face multiple charges in the death of Amanda Blackburn. She was 13 weeks pregnant when she was shot in the head during the Nov. 10 attack at the couple’s Indianapolis home and died the next day.

Watson and Taylor are both being held at the Marion County Jail. It wasn’t immediately clear whether either man had an attorney.

1:50 p.m.

Prosecutors are charging a second man with murder in the fatal shooting of a pastor’s pregnant wife during a break in of their Indianapolis home.

Marion County court records show murder and several other charges were filed Monday against 21-year-old Jalen E. Watson of Indianapolis and that he is a co-defendant of 18-year-old Larry Jo Taylor Jr.

Indianapolis police announced earlier Monday the arrest of Taylor on murder charges in Amanda Blackburn’s killing. Blackburn was shot in the head during the Nov. 10 attack at the couple’s home and died the next day.

The county prosecutor is holding a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the case.

Watson and Taylor are both being held at the Marion County Jail. It wasn’t immediately clear whether either man had an attorney

12:35 p.m.

Court records show that an 18-year-old man arrested in the fatal shooting of a pregnant Indianapolis woman will face 13 charges, including murder, in that case.

Marion County’s online court records show that Larry Jo Taylor Jr. faces charges that include murder, burglary, criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Taylor was arrested overnight on a preliminary murder charge in Amanda Blackburn’s killing and is being held at the Marion County Jail. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Taylor had an attorney.

Blackburn was shot in the head during the Nov. 10 attack at the couple’s home and died the next day.

Taylor also faces misdemeanor public nudity and public indecency charges stemming from an unrelated June arrest.

12 p.m.

Prosecutors have scheduled a news conference to announce criminal charges in the fatal shooting of a pregnant Indianapolis woman.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry scheduled a 2 p.m. Monday news conference to announce formal charges in the Amanda Blackburn case.

Police said early Monday that 18-year-old Larry Taylor had been arrested on a preliminary murder charge in the 28-year-old woman’s death.

Blackburn was shot in the head during the Nov. 10 attack at the couple’s home and died the next day.

She was 13 weeks pregnant and the child did not survive. The couple’s 15-month-old son, Weston, was at home but not harmed in the attack.

Her husband, pastor Davey Blackburn, had gone to the gym.

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