Amanda Blackburn Murder: Pastor Davey Blackburn, "Extremely Relieved" about Arrest of Pregnant Wife's Killer

Elizabeth Delaney : Nov 24, 2015
Gospel Herald

"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." -Pastor Davey Blackburn

Pastor Davey Blackburn seeks God to give him and his family the power to have a "heart of forgiveness," and is making a choice in which he is, "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." (Photo via Gospel Herald)

Police have made an arrest in connection with Amanda Blackburn's murderer. That's some good news for Pastor Davey Blackburn and the family. Blackburn said that he is, "extremely relieved" that there has been an arrest and that investigators are saying that they have a, "solidly built case." But Blackburn adds that it still doesn't, "undo the pain we feel."

An 18 year-old-male, Larry Taylor, was arrested, as well as two other men, Jalen Watson and Diano Gordon. Indianapolis police have said that all of the men will be charged with at least three other robberies and Amanda Blackburn's rape. Taylor was arrested with the assistance of U.S. Marshals and the Indianapolis violent crime detectives unit.

The three men apparently entered the unlocked house after Davey Blackburn had left for the gym on the morning of November 10. They had found Amanda Blackburn at home, stole the pastor's ATM card, and two of the men left to withdraw money, while one stayed behind and raped Amanda Blackburn, and then shot her in the head while her toddler lay asleep in his crib upstairs. Detectives were able to piece together who the suspects were through ATM receipts they found in a car that the suspects had stolen earlier in the month.

Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite publically thanked all who were involved in solving the case...

Continue reading from Gospel Herald here.

Pastor Davey posted a note on Facebook, (click here to read it) below is an excerpt.

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.