Arrest in shooting death of pastor's pregnant wife

INDIANAPOLIS -- 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. Taylor is also believed to have sexually assaulted the woman. 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 Nov. 10 inside her home and later died at a hospital. The mother of a toddler had recently had announced she was pregnant. Blackburn's husband said he was happy to learn of the arrests.

"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," Davey Blackburn said.

He said investigators have told him they have a "solidly-built case." Blackburn said he hopes 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."

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

CBS Indianapolis affiliate WTTV reports two other suspects are also in custody.

Sources say all three men will also be charged in three more burglaries, as well as a rape at the Westlake Apartments.

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.

The suspects were living at the Westlake Apartments until early November, WTTV reports. The men then moved to an address on San Clemente Drive, where detectives believe two of the suspects were captured on a 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.

In addition to the Blackburn and Westlake Apartments robberies, the men will be charged with another robbery near Blackburn's home.

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 waiting with her 1-year-old son for 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.