INDIANAPOLIS - PREGNANT MOM MURDERED (Amanda Blackburn)

[HairOfTheDog]

Amanda Blackburn's Celebration of Life ceremony was sponsored by the Resonate Church and live streamed on the website today.

The husband's initial statement and its focus on himself and his business bothers me, a lot.

Maybe he is just a very self-centered and unemotional person and had no involvement in his wife's murder at all. I really hope that's the case, for the little boy's sake.

But, I can't see how police have truly been able to rule him out completely. Even if they know the husband didn't pull the trigger, they haven't yet identified and interviewed the shooting suspect they reportedly have on surveillance video. So, they can't have explored the suspected shooter's possible connections to any of the family members.

It's also curious to me that there's reportedly a dangerous armed burglar running around shooting pregnant women in the head, and yet the PD hasn't released a clip/screencap of the suspect to the public and asked for tips to help identify and capture him before he strikes again.

Anyway, here's Judge Jeanine Pirro's take on the case.

[Midwest Spy]

I always go back to the movie 'Jagged Edge'.

Jeff Bridges ends up being acquitted of murdering his wife because there had been a similar style break in 18 months earlier at another home.

Jeff Bridges had carried out the earlier break in just so when he killed his wife later he'd be able to say, 'look, it had to have been someone else.'

I almost wonder if the husband orchestrated the other break-in earlier in the morning in this case, just to throw cops off the scent?

[HairOfTheDog]

I love that movie; haven't watched it in ages.

It crossed my mind too that the other burglary might have been set up to convince people that Amanda was killed in a botched home invasion. It's possible.

I hope there's news of an arrest soon.

[HairOfTheDog]

The husband, ^ Davey Blackburn, appeared on Good Morning America today.


Police released surveillance shots ^ of the suspected shooter today as well. They're asking for tips from anyone who recognizes the person -- seems like a long shot.

[HairOfTheDog]

Suspects Questioned -- New Details Released

Three men were taken into custody Thursday morning after police served several search warrants at different locations across the city (Indianapolis). Two of the men were arrested on unrelated parole violations, a police spokesperson confirmed.

Officers conducted DNA swabs on the three men to compare to evidence found at the crime scene.

Police say Blackburn was shot in the head during a home robbery, which detectives later linked to another nearby home break-in. Sources confirmed to the station that Blackburn was sexually assaulted in the attack.

No arrests have been made in the case. Just days after the killing, police quickly determined that her husband, Davey Blackburn, had no part in the killing.

Police haven't released many details about their investigation, although they did release surveillance images of a possible suspect.

Detectives also recovered a handgun just blocks away from the murder scene. Authorities told the station that a credit card taken from Blackburn's home had been used at various locations in the city. Police said the transactions began the night Blackburn was shot.

Davey Blackburn remains confident the police department is doing all they can to catch his wife`s killer.

"They've assured us that they have the full breadth of resources at their availability. They've assured me that they've never seen this kind of a blank check that they've been given to be able to further the investigation," said Blackburn. "So we're really confident and hopeful that very soon, some of these promising leads that they have will turn into being able to find the person or the people who are responsible for this."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-questioned...blackburn/

[HairOfTheDog]

I still haven't seen one bit of grief or any statements/interviews where Davey Blackburn didn't focus heavily on himself, Jesus, and advertising for his church in relation to his murdered pregnant wife.

Whether he had anything to do with her murder or not, he seems very insincere and creeps me out.



^ This is a compilation of some of his sermons to his church and some of his recent interviews. Apparently, a lot of people are also hoping he's not involved, but not sure what to make of the guy.

[sally]

WTH kind of church is that. He's definitely not all there.

[Duchess]

I don't believe that is a loving partner.

[sally]

I love that movie; haven't watched it in ages.

I've never watched that movie so I ordered it from Amazon after you and MS were talking about it. Pretty good. I've always liked Jeff Bridges and Peter Coyote. I'd like to be in the middle of a Jeff Bridges and Peter Coyote sandwich.

[HairOfTheDog]

Peter Coyote ain't too shabby, but I love Jeff Bridges. If you haven't seen The Morning After, he's great in that psychological thriller too.

[HairOfTheDog]

Suspects to be Charged

Three men have been taken into custody in connection with the Amanda Blackburn murder and sexual assault investigation. Sources say they will also be charged in three more burglaries, including a rape at the Westlake Apartments.

Detectives have collected evidence linking the trio to a previous rape and robbery at the Westlake Apartments, where the suspects were living until early November, sources say. 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.

The trio will also be charged with a burglary that occurred earlier that day near the Blackburn’s home. Surveillance video shows at least one of the suspects in that community around the time of the burglary.

Detectives believe the men entered the Blackburn home, which was unlocked, and confronted Amanda Blackburn, who was at home with her 1-year-old son. Sources say two of the men left with Blackburn’s ATM card to retrieve money, while Taylor allegedly raped and shot Amanda.

Full story: http://cbs4indy.com/2015/11/23/impd-make...burn-case/

[HairOfTheDog]

Davey Blackburn's Statement

Amanda’s husband released the following statement Monday morning:

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 investigators have assured me they have a solidly-built case to ensure justice is levied and the process is expedited. The family and I couldn’t be more thankful for the level of compassion and professionalism the IMPD and investigators have shown us through the last couple of weeks. My hope is for 3 things in the weeks and months to come:

(1) 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.

(2) That through all of this and although there will be great consequences for his actions, he would become truly sorry for what he has done and would even begin to experience the life-transforming power of the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

(3) That Jesus would give me and our family a heart of forgiveness.

Though everything inside of me wants to hate, be angry, and slip into despair I choose the route of forgiveness, grace and hope. If there is one thing I’ve learned from Amanda in the 10 years we were together, it’s this: Choosing to let my emotions drive my decisions is recipe for a hopeless and fruitless life. Today I am deciding to love, not hate. Today I am deciding to extend forgiveness, not bitterness. Today I am deciding to hope, not despair. By Jesus’ power at work within us, the best is STILL yet to come. Even when I don’t see it, I believe it to be true.

[Midwest Spy]

Wow. Looks like I was wrong again!

Imagine that.

The husband is always behind these crimes, until the one time I chime in, and then it's really the 3 random thugs looking to rape, pillage and kill while the husband is conveniently out of the house.

I'm done speculating.

[HairOfTheDog]

I hope you don't stop speculating MS.

In this case, the husband's reaction is not what one would expect and spouses are often the guilty parties in these kinds of cases.

There is good reason to be suspicious of him, though I think you actually declared him guilty in your first post. You get to do that here.

Anyway, now that we're hearing the evidence, it's looking less likely that Davey had a hand in the murder of his wife and unborn child (but the investigation is still ongoing).

He sure did use the murder to pimp his business/church and talk a lot more about himself than Amanda, their children, or getting justice. Could he do that and still be innocent? Yep.

Here's what criminal profiler Pat Brown has to say about the case and the almost universal suspicion of Davey Blackburn based on his statements and actions: http://patbrownprofiling.blogspot.com/

[Midwest Spy]

Okay, I feel a little better knowing I wasn't the only one being duped.

[HairOfTheDog]

He didn't really dupe anybody because he hasn't lied in any of his public statements, as far as we know.

He just raised a lot of suspicion due to his demeanor, reaction, and priorities. It's that truth that made so many look at him sideways, in my opinion.

He was questioned by police early on (as anyone under the circumstances would be). His name was included in media and police statements and you backed up your posted accusation with a theory (and noted it was just your opinion), so it's all good.

I wanna know why these people allegedly burglarized and raped at other homes without killing anyone, but felt that they needed to execute Amanda while she was alone with a baby in the house. It's very sad to imagine what she endured in her last hours (same as with the Petits, Savopoulos', and many other home invasion cases). There are reportedly three suspects to be charged, so hopefully one of them will spill it all.

[Maggot]

Any pictures of the kid they caught?

[HairOfTheDog]

I looked for pics earlier Mags; nada. I'll check again.

[Maggot]

Any bets on his race? Probably Asian.

[HairOfTheDog]

Suspect Photos Released


^ Jalene Watson, 21, and Larry Jo Taylor, 18. They are charged with murder, along with felony burglary, theft, and robbery.


^ This winner is Diano Gordon, 24. He is being held on parole violation charges and a different burglary charge and has not been charged in the Blackburn case at this point (let's hope he's singing like a bird and trying to work a deal).

The updates from this morning's court appearance indicate that the police don't have enough evidence to charge the men with sexual assault at this time.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty against Taylor (he is accused of being the one who stayed at the house with Amanda while the others went to use her ATM card and he's the one suspected of shooting her, I believe).

Authorities revealed today that Amanda was shot 3 times.

Updates:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime.../76246780/
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index....ianap.html