GUILTY IN - Amanda Blackburn, 28, pregnant, murdered, Indianapolis, 10 Nov 2015 #4

[bessie]

I'm reviewing the Press Conference announcing Criminal Charges against Taylor and Watson. [video=youtube;VZwUouFESUw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZwUouFESUw[/video]

Timestamp [8:21] Det. Converse, I think (?), is speaking: "It started with the initial burglary and then evidence in that burglary led us to the subsequent burglaries and the homicide."
Q: ...What was this?
LE: "Opportunity, I think. They took the opportunity to take one burglary and it led to another. And in doing the others, it led to the opportunity to do the last one."

This statement seems more intentional than random. Something in the first burglary led to the second. I wonder what that could be? I'm not suggesting to sleuth victims, btw. Just pondering out loud how the first burglary could have led to the "opportunity" to do another so far away.

Well, for one thing, the first burglary provided them with a car. But it is an interesting statement. I'm going to listen to it again.

 

[mom2six]

Well, for one thing, the first burglary provided them with a car. But it is an interesting statement. I'm going to listen to it again.

Yes, the car. But the way this is stated indicates something more direct to me. I can't fathom what that could be? Unless there is resident B's work schedule posted on the wall at residence A, with home address and alarm code to boot. That's too absurd.

 

[mom2six]

Back from running errands and continuing on with the Press Conference.

[video=youtube;VZwUouFESUw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZwUouFESUw[/video]

Q (paraphrased by me): Can you speak to what happened between the time they entered the [Blackburn] home and the time they left?

LE (Det. Converse??): "I can't answer that."

Why can't he answer that? It is in the probable cause. I am a real novice at these press conferences, usually reading on threads well after the fact, so I don't know if it is common for LE to be hesitant to address information that is posted in a probable cause. Maybe someone can weigh in on that?

 

[SapphireSteel]

LE always have hold-back information

That is, details not released

The major reason for this is to avoid False Confessions and weed out story embellishers

The ones who Know what happened inside that house are the Only ones who were there

Suggest this is holdback, no more

 

[mom2six]

LE always have hold-back information

That is, details not released

The major reason for this is to avoid False Confessions and weed out story embellishers

The ones who Know what happened inside that house are the Only ones who were there

Suggest this is holdback, no more

Maybe he was not confident that he might add those sort of details if he answered with a brief synopsis. It just stood out to me that he did not even reference what is contained in the PC, though he does this in answer to several other questions. I wonder why?

 

[SapphireSteel]

They all have the same case number, so they must relate to Amanda and baby? I wonder if there is some clerical duplication going on.

Some states have provision in the law to charge an individual for Two Murders over the One Body

Im not sure how...it was explained to me I forgot...some Technicality...maybe Murder stands alone and Murder in the Commission of Another Felony also stands alone...

Anyway the 4 murder charges are likely for Amanda and Evie only, and not a typo.

 

[heidisams]

Back from running errands and continuing on with the Press Conference.

[video=youtube;VZwUouFESUw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZwUouFESUw[/video]

Q (paraphrased by me): Can you speak to what happened between the time they entered the [Blackburn] home and the time they left?

LE (Det. Converse??): "I can't answer that."

Why can't he answer that? It is in the probable cause. I am a real novice at these press conferences, usually reading on threads well after the fact, so I don't know if it is common for LE to be hesitant to address information that is posted in a probable cause. Maybe someone can weigh in on that?

BBM

I don't think he could answer that because they weren't completely sure... They didn't have all the DNA results in. They knew enough from the initial results to to go ahead and charge them, but any additional charges would have to wait until everything was in and they had the full picture... ie, evidence that would come from AB following autopsy...

All jmo.

 

[bluesneakers]

This is a new generation of <modsnip>. They have NO value for human life.

That take what they want. It's a sad world we are living in today.

If only this were a new thing it would make me be hopeful and think we could fix it, but people have been devaluing other people's lives since forever. Maybe it happens more often or maybe we hear about it more, but it's nothing new.

 

[Chuz Life]

Speaking of the devaluation of human life. . . I hope we will see charges filed for the death of the couples unborn child as well. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act was passed just for these types of crimes.

 

[al66pine]

If only this were a new thing it would make me be hopeful and think we could fix it, but people have been devaluing other people's lives since forever. Maybe it happens more often or maybe we hear about it more, but it's nothing new.

Yes, this ^ x 100.

 

[al66pine]

Speaking of the devaluation of human life. . . I hope we will see charges filed for the death of the couples unborn child as well. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act was passed just for these types of crimes.

AFAIK, Indiana state (not federal) criminal law charges have bn filed already.

"....federal criminal law does not apply to crimes prosecuted by the individual states...." *#
Prosecutor of Marion County, IN cannot prosecute violations of federal law, such as Unborn Victims of Violence Act.*

US Atty's Office (aka federal prosecutor, a fed. official) can prosecute under this fed act, which applies only to certain offenses crimes over which US govt has jurisdiction, such as certain crimes -
- committed on federal properties, .................................................................................................(not app to Blackburn, imo)
- against certain federal officials and employees,................................................................... (not app to Blackburn, imo) and
- by members of the military...........................................................................(not app to Blackburn, imo)
Also covers certain crimes of terrorism. (IDK which other specific fed crimes, but doubt if 'terrorism' applies to Blackburn.)
JM2cts, could be wrong.^

I recall reading about fed LE officials (FBI?) in investigation initially, but I do not recall stmts from USAtty's Ofc (fed prosecutors) about poss charges. Maybe someone can refresh my memory on that. Thx in adv.

Maybe US Atty's Office will become involved, file charges for fed crime, so then UVVA can also be brought.



__________________________________________________________________________________
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unborn_Victims_of_Violence_Act
"The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-212) is a United States law which recognizes a child in utero as a legal victim, if they are injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. The law defines "child in utero" as "a member of the species *advertiser censored* sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb".[SUP][1][/SUP]
The law is codified in two sections of the United States Code: Title 18, Chapter 1 (Crimes), §1841 (18 USC 1841) and Title 10, Chapter 22 (Uniform Code of Military Justice) §919a (Article 119a).

The law applies only to certain offenses over which the United States government has jurisdiction, including certain crimes committed on federal properties, against certain federal officials and employees, and by members of the military. In addition, it covers certain crimes that are defined by statute as federal offenses wherever they occur, no matter who commits them, such as certain crimes of terrorism." (<---bbm)

*# Because of principles of federalism embodied in the United States Constitution, federal criminal law does not apply to crimes prosecuted by the individual states." (<---bbm)

 

[Chuz Life]

AFAIK, Indiana state (not federal) criminal law charges have bn filed already.

"....federal criminal law does not apply to crimes prosecuted by the individual states...." *#
Prosecutor of Marion County, IN cannot prosecute violations of federal law, such as Unborn Victims of Violence Act.*

US Atty's Office (aka federal prosecutor, a fed. official) can prosecute under this fed act, which applies only to certain offenses crimes over which US govt has jurisdiction, such as certain crimes -
- committed on federal properties, .................................................................................................(not app to Blackburn, imo)
- against certain federal officials and employees,................................................................... (not app to Blackburn, imo) and
- by members of the military...........................................................................(not app to Blackburn, imo)
Also covers certain crimes of terrorism. (IDK which other specific fed crimes, but doubt if 'terrorism' applies to Blackburn.)
JM2cts, could be wrong.^

I recall reading about fed LE officials (FBI?) in investigation initially, but I do not recall stmts from USAtty's Ofc (fed prosecutors) about poss charges. Maybe someone can refresh my memory on that. Thx in adv.

Maybe US Atty's Office will become involved, file charges for fed crime, so then UVVA can also be brought.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unborn_Victims_of_Violence_Act
"The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-212) is a United States law which recognizes a child in utero as a legal victim, if they are injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. The law defines "child in utero" as "a member of the species *advertiser censored* sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb".[SUP][1][/SUP]
The law is codified in two sections of the United States Code: Title 18, Chapter 1 (Crimes), §1841 (18 USC 1841) and Title 10, Chapter 22 (Uniform Code of Military Justice) §919a (Article 119a).

The law applies only to certain offenses over which the United States government has jurisdiction, including certain crimes committed on federal properties, against certain federal officials and employees, and by members of the military. In addition, it covers certain crimes that are defined by statute as federal offenses wherever they occur, no matter who commits them, such as certain crimes of terrorism." (<---bbm)

*# Because of principles of federalism embodied in the United States Constitution, federal criminal law does not apply to crimes prosecuted by the individual states." (<---bbm)

I'm pretty sure Indiana has a State's version of the UVVA that does pretty much the same thing.

Here is a list of all the States that do - including Indiana

http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx

 

[Boodles]

BBM

I don't think he could answer that because they weren't completely sure... They didn't have all the DNA results in. They knew enough from the initial results to to go ahead and charge them, but any additional charges would have to wait until everything was in and they had the full picture... ie, evidence that would come from AB following autopsy...

All jmo.

He couldn't answer because he didn't want to. The PC document is intended to convince a judge that LE has sufficient evidence to support the issuance of an arrest warrant. LE does not want to let on any more details than benefits themselves as they conduct their investigation. Oh, you can bet they know mucho more that what was published in the PC document! But granted, additional info, such as DNA results, continues to trickle in. In my experience, they don't share very much with the public unless/until there is a trial.

 

[heidisams]

He couldn't answer because he didn't want to. The PC document is intended to convince a judge that LE has sufficient evidence to support the issuance of an arrest warrant. LE does not want to let on any more details than benefits themselves as they conduct their investigation. Oh, you can bet they know mucho more that what was published in the PC document! But granted, additional info, such as DNA results, continues to trickle in. In my experience, they don't share very much with the public unless/until there is a trial.

Of course they won't share everything before trial, but by the time it goes to trial all the evidence is in and the facts have been sorted through... We are talking about a press conference that occurred only a couple of weeks after the crime happened, how can you expect them to have it all figured out when this is a very complex case, involving several crimes in one morning, 3 or maybe 4 perps, CI's, multiple agencies to coordinate, forensics, etc... They knew enough to get dangerous criminals off the street at that point, IMO, and probably had some pretty good working theories, but I don't think they had factual knowledge of everything that went on inside that house from start to finish, which is what he was asked...That's all I was trying to say.... This was very early in the investigation...

All jmo.

 

[Cardinal47]

Maybe to spare Amanda's family some pain? Seeing what happened in the press over and over must be very hard on them.

 

[mom2six]

For weapons experts out there, can you answer this question for me? I've seen several comments that a revolver is presumed to be the weapon involved because bullet casings were not recovered on the scene. Why is it ruled out that the casings could have been picked up and removed from the scene by the perp? We know there was a lot of time spent inside the crime scene. This point really confuses me.

 

[Chuz Life]

For weapons experts out there, can you answer this question for me? I've seen several comments that a revolver is presumed to be the weapon involved because bullet casings were not recovered on the scene. Why is it ruled out that the casings could have been picked up and removed from the scene by the perp? We know there was a lot of time spent inside the crime scene. This point really confuses me.

You raise a good point that the casings could have been picked up. I can say that casings can end up in weird places that make them hard to find, so the perps would have to be able to find them all (assuming multiple shots were fired.) I think the assumption is that most criminals are not smart enough to look for, find and collect all the casings - no matter how much time they have.

 

[DropthePuck]

You raise a good point that the casings could have been picked up. I can say that casings can end up in weird places that make them hard to find, so the perps would have to be able to find them all (assuming multiple shots were fired.) I think the assumption is that most criminals are not smart enough to look for, find and collect all the casings - no matter how much time they have.

I'm going to hazard a guess that these goons weren't smart enough to even think about gathering the casings. The fact that they left beer and wine bottles behind at the second house after drinking out of them speaks volumes.

 

[mom2six]

You raise a good point that the casings could have been picked up. I can say that casings can end up in weird places that make them hard to find, so the perps would have to be able to find them all (assuming multiple shots were fired.) I think the assumption is that most criminals are not smart enough to look for, find and collect all the casings - no matter how much time they have.

There seems to be unexplained time spent at the scene, in this crime. Maybe they did retrieve the casings? There were three shots fired, so not so many casings to collect. Your point about the casings being in weird places is a good one. The family did also have a professional cleaning crew come in after the initial release of the scene on day one and before investigators returned on day two. I hope the cleaners were interviewed on whether they happened to find any casings.

 

[mom2six]

I'm going to hazard a guess that these goons weren't smart enough to even think about gathering the casings. The fact that they left beer and wine bottles behind at the second house after drinking out of them speaks volumes.

That made me snort.