Police Arrest Teen in Relation to the Murder of Rebecca Blackburn, Wife of Indiana Pastor

By Cheri Cheng - 23 Nov '15 10:51AM
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A teenager has been arrested in relation to the rape and murder of Rebecca Blackburn, the pregnant wife of a popular young pastor named Davey, Indianapolis police announced Monday morning.

The police reported that they have 18-year-old Larry Taylor in custody on a preliminary charge of murder and two other men, who had violated their parole and are also suspected to be involved. The two men were identified as Jalen Watson, 21 and Diano Gordan, 24, FOX 59 reported.

"We are thankful to our federal, state and local partnerships that aided in the apprehension of the suspect in this terrible and senseless crime," Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department chief Rick Hite said in a statement.

According to the reports, Amanda, 28 was attacked in her home by at least one armed intruder once her husband left to go to the gym at around 6:10 a.m. on Nov. 10. Police believe the intruder thought that the house was empty.

Once he found Amanda, who was 12 weeks pregnant, he raped her and then shot her in the head while her 15-month-old son was tucked safely in his crib upstairs. He was not harmed. Davey returned and found his wife in critical condition. Amanda died in the hospital two days after the attack.

The police believe that while Taylor was brutally attacking Amanda, the two other men were withdrawing money from Davey's card. The police added that the three men have previously been linked to another alleged rape and robbery case.

"She loved the people who were unlovable, gave hope to people who didn't have hope, didn't think they had a future," Davey told ABC News' Good Morning America. "Amanda didn't have an enemy in the world. ... That's why this has baffled us as much as anybody."

After days of searching for the suspect based on a very grainy photograph, the police were able to arrest Taylor.

"All victims of criminal homicides deserve closure, and as a community we must send a collective message that violence is not an option," Hite said. "Our detectives have worked tirelessly going days without sleep to solve murders in our city. With the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler and Prosecutor Terry Curry justice will be done!"

Davey has not commented about the arrest of the men.

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