Pastor's wife attackers charged with murder; widower says he has already forgiven them
Three men have just been arrested and taken into custody for the killing of Amanda Blackburn, 28, the wife of Pastor Davey Blackburn from Resonate Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry announced that formal charges had already been filed against Larry Taylor, 18, Jalen Watson, 21, and Diano Gordon, 24. Taylor, in particular, is facing 13 charges, including murder, for the "knowing and intentional killing" of Blackburn, according to the Daily Mail UK.
Watson has been charged with felony murder. Both he and Taylor also face multiple burglary, robbery, and theft charges. Gordon, on the other hand, has been slapped with burglary charges.
Curry said DNA testing was a big break in their investigation. However, he said there is not enough evidence for him to file sexual assault charges against Amanda's attackers.
He said he has not yet decided on whether to seek the death penalty against the two men accused of murder. He said he will be meeting with the Blackburn family prior to making a death penalty decision.
For his part, widower Davey said he is "extremely relieved" by the arrest of the suspects but quickly added that this does not "undo the pain we are feeling."
"Though everything inside of me wants to hate, be angry, and slip into despair I choose the route of forgiveness, grace and hope," he said.
Davey expressed hope that the "court system would have wisdom on how to prosecute this man, so that no one else endures the pain Amanda and our family have had to endure because of his actions."
The affidavit secured by the police shared details coming from Taylor's end on how the attack against Amanda transpired, ABC News reported.
"Taylor stated she charged at him and he shot her somewhere in the upper body so he would not be scratched. Taylor then told them that he leaned over her body and shot her in the back of the head. He leaned further, looked at her face, and watched her bleed," the affidavit says.
However, police reported that Blackburn was shot three times—in her left arm, upper back, and head.
