2 charged in pastor's wife killing say little in court
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Two young men charged in the shooting death of an Indianapolis pastor's pregnant wife gave brief answers to a judge's questions Tuesday during their first court appearance since their arrest.
Marion County Superior Court Judge Grant Hawkins entered not guilty pleas for 18-year-old Larry Taylor Jr. and 21-year-old Jalen Watson and appointed attorneys for the Indianapolis men during their initial hearing on murder, burglary, theft and several other charges. The judge also set a Jan. 8 pretrial conference for both men.
Taylor, who authorities allege fatally shot 28-year-old Amanda Blackburn earlier this month, appeared distracted, swiveling back and forth in his chair. Hawkins told Taylor more than once that he needed to respond clearly and audibly to each of his questions about whether he understood the charges, rather than only "yeah." Watson, however, said "yes" and "yes sir," throughout.
Prosecutors said Taylor and Watson entered through the unlocked front door of Blackburn's home shortly after her husband, Pastor Davey Blackburn, left for the gym about 6 a.m. Nov. 10. A probable cause affidavit says Taylor shot Amanda Blackburn three times, including once in the back of the head.
Watson faces a murder charge because Blackburn was killed during a home burglary and prosecutors allege that he was involved in it.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said Monday it was not clear whether Blackburn, who was 13 weeks pregnant, had been sexually assaulted; she was found partially nude. Prosecutors have filed a request with the court that seeks to enhance the murder charge Taylor faces, citing that she was pregnant at the time of her killing.
Under the state's request, an additional six to 20 years could be added to Taylor's sentence if he is convicted or pleads guilty to the murder charge, and the jury or judge finds that prosecutors have proven that Taylor caused the termination of her pregnancy.
Curry said Monday his office would review whether it might also seek the death penalty against Taylor.
Davey Blackburn released a statement after the charges were filed Monday saying: "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."
The couple's 15-month-old son, Weston, was at home upstairs in a crib but was not harmed in the attack.
Amanda and Davey Blackburn moved to Indianapolis from South Carolina in 2012 to found the independent Resonate Church.
A probable cause affidavit states that the two men entered the Blackburn house through the unlocked front door after they had burglarized two other homes and had stolen a car they used to haul away the items.
It could take months for the crime lab to process all of the evidence, including DNA swabs, that was collected from three different crime scenes and the vehicle, deputy county prosecutor Denise Robinson said.
Taylor's public defender, Jeff Neal, did not return telephone messages left Tuesday. Watson's court-appointed attorney, Daniel Grove, said it will "take several months" for him to review and investigate the case.
"It's a very difficult and complicated case from my client's point of view and it's going to take a long time before it gets resolved," he said.