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

[IceIce9]

I was hoping more arrests would have been made. JMO

Would be interesting to speak with some of the members of his former church. He wasn’t transparent with them regarding the financial status of the church, and I can’t imagine they would be happy with him for the way he left.

 

[meanmaryjean]

I was hoping more arrests would have been made. JMO

Same. *sits on hands

 

[IceIce9]

The financial statement of his church can be read here;

Twitter

 

[CocoChanel]

REMINDER- This is not a thread to sleuth and discuss a victim’s family member who has not been named a suspect in a crime for which others have been arrested. That is a violation of Websleuths’ TOS. If it changes and a family member is named as a suspect by LE, only then can that person be sleuthed and discussed.

*ETA - My original warning post above stated incorrectly that suspects who had been arrested had been convicted for this crime. That was not an accurate statement, and the warning has been edited to reflect the correct info. Thank you to member max99 for noting that. When errors like that are found, please send a report to mods so that we can manage the misinformation and correct it. If you quote the misinformation on the thread it makes for a bigger cleanup, and can derail the discussion. We DO want to know when we make mistakes, as I did. Best way to let us know is in a report/alert.

If any members can find the most current MSM news articles and/or statements from authorities about this tragic case, it would help to post them to bring this thread up to date.

THANK YOU for your continuing efforts to post respectfully and responsibly according to the TOS we all agreed to when we joined Websleuths.

Faithfully,
CocoChanel
Moderator

 

[MajorHoople]

As far I can tell Larry Jo Taylor, Jr. still has not gone to trial in the murder of Amanda Blackburn. I can find no recent information.

 

[DeDee]

Marketing

February 19, 2020
Two of the three suspects charged with the 2015 murder of Amanda Blackburn, have now had the murder charges against them dropped after agreeing to plea deals, while the case for murder against the remaining suspect is still pending.
Taylor’s trial is still pending while Davey Blackburn’s book Nothing Is Wasted: A True Story of Hope, Forgiveness, and Finding Purpose in Pain, has been placed on hold until after Taylor’s trial.
Taylor’s public defender, Jeff Neel, was granted permission to review the manuscript ahead of trial Feb. 7, 2018. On the same day, however, the judge granted a motion by Taylor to dismiss his legal counsel and represent himself in the trial. Neel was noted as remaining as counsel for the issue of reviewing the manuscript on court documents.

Pastor Davey Blackburn reveals how God helped him to forgive after first wife’s murder

With only 164 days to wait, the book is in pre-sale 10% off stages for a publication date of June 30, 2021. The publisher is Howard Books, a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster that publishes Christian books.

Nothing Is Wasted : Davey Blackburn : 9781501171543

 

[sl222]

I *really* never liked this phrase "Nothing is Wasted" as used in connection with the loss of Amanda's life. It creeps me out like everything about this horrible crime.

 

[BrownRice]

I *really* never liked this phrase "Nothing is Wasted" as used in connection with the loss of Amanda's life. It creeps me out like everything about this horrible crime.

Agree 100000%

 

[FrostedGlass]

It's unreal that these cases are still pending after all these years. The accused are currently in Marion County Jail, as per VINE.
Indiana Supreme Court public access case search - MyCase

Jalen Watson 49D31-1511-MR-041745 (next scheduled hearing)
03/12/2021 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 04/23/2021 1:30 PM, Rescheduled
Session: 03/12/2021 1:30 PM, Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
Comment: in person (deft in custody) at 2 p.m.
*******************
Larry Jo Taylor, Jr. 49G05-1511-MR-041732 (next scheduled hearing)
03/22/2021 = Hearing
Session: 03/22/2021 1:30 PM, Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
Comment: 702 hearing on cell phone about 3 hours
******************
Diano Gordon 49D31-1601-MR-001659
02/19/2021 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Change of Plea Hearing scheduled for 04/05/2021 at 1:30 PM
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing
Session: 04/05/2021 1:30 PM, Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
Comment: In person @ 1:00 p.m.

Diano Gordon 49D31-1512-F4-043993
02/19/2021 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Change of Plea Hearing scheduled for 04/05/2021 at 1:30 PM.
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing
Session: 04/05/2021 1:30 PM, Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
Comment: In person @ 1 p.m.

 

[FrostedGlass]

The Jalen Watson plea is over my head: Plea agreement-open level 2
He only pleaded to 3 of the charges; does that mean for the other 7 charges?

09/27/2019 = Hearing Journal Entry
Defendant has signed plea agreement-open level 2.
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W

Hearing Date:
09/27/2019
0/27/2017 = Hearing Journal Entry
Plea Accepted
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W

10/27/2017 = Judgment
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
05. 35-42-5-1(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury Injury to someone other than a defendant
• Plea by Agreement
06. 35-43-2-1/F4:Burglary Burglary of a dwelling
• Plea by Agreement
09. 35-43-2-1/F4:Burglary Burglary of a dwelling
• Plea by Agreement

***********************
"Home detention"

07/02/2020 = Order Denying
defense motion for home detention. Court does recommend Mental Health block in Marion County Jail
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
Order Signed: 07/02/2020

 

[FrostedGlass]

It always pays to go back to the beginning of some of these cases. I didn't realize the Blackburn case was part of an eight-day crime spree. Now I see Larry Jo Taylor, Jr. also has a murder/robbery charge for the Nov. 4 shooting death of Rolando Gonzalez-Hernandez. (I'll try not to get his 2 cases mixed up.)

Is anyone interested in knowing what happens in the other cases where these guys are co-defendants?

Amanda Blackburn killing part of eight-day crime spree

Hernandez murder 49D31-1512-MR-045959

Charges
01 11/04/2015 35-42-1-1(1): Murder
02 11/04/2015 35-42-1-1(2): Murder
03 11/04/2015 35-42-5-1(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury Injury to someone other than a defendant

 

[FrostedGlass]

I did a brief summary in an effort to keep things simple; there were probably more after the Tyree murder case but I got overwhelmed with it all. The crime in Indy is just beyond my comprehension.

Jalen Watson
49D31-1711-F6-043561(poss. of Narcotic)
03/12/2021 = Status Conference

49D31-1512-F2-044927 (co-def in Taylor rape case) Watson did not rape
03/12/2021 = Sentencing Hearing

49D31-1511-MR-041745 (Blackburn)
03/12/2021 = Sentencing Hearing
-----------------------------------------------
Larry Jo Taylor, Jr
49D31-1512-F1-044923 (Rape Case)
03/22/2021 = Pretrial Conference

49D31-1511-MR-041732 (Blackburn)
03/22/2021 = Hearing (comment: 702 hearing on cell phone about 3 hours)

49D31-1512-MR-045959 (Hernandez murder, no co-defendants)
03/22/2021 = Pretrial Conference
-----------------------------------------------------------
Diano Gordon
49D31-1512-F4-043993 (co-defendant in Blackburn murder case)
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing (05/23/2018 plea deal)

49D31-1907-F6-026082 (co-def Billy Holmes 49D31-1907-F6-026077)
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing
======================================
Billy Holmes
49D31-1907-F6-026077 (co-def Diano Gordon 49D31-1907-F6-026082)
04/19/2021 = Pretrial Conference

49D31-1612-MR-048033 (co-def Gerald Tyree)
Plea agreement has already been filed waiting on co-defendant case to be resolved.
04/19/2021 = Sentencing Hearing
===========================================
GERALD JAVONTAE TYREE, Jr.
49D31-1612-MR-048029 (co-def Billy Holmes)
04/12/2021 = Jury Trial

 

[FrostedGlass]

Just a reminder that Watson has a hearing today on his 3 cases. He's scheduled for 1:30 and if it's live, I'll be watching.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Watson's sentence for the Blackburn murder; he originally had 10 charges:
49D31-1511-MR-041745

03/12/2021 = Sentenced
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
5. 35-42-5-1(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury Injury to someone other than a defendant
Confinement to Commence: 03/12/2021
Indiana Department of Correction
Term: 29 Yr
Jail Credit: 1,941 Days
Suspended: 0 Days
Concurrent with Prior Sentence: 49D31-1512-F2-044927
Comment: Defendant sentence pursuant to plea agreement. Department of Corrections to award good time credit in accordance with Indiana Law. Credit time of time of 1941 days actual with 647 days earned as agreed upon all parties. The defendant to cooperate with the State of Indiana Law in the prosecution of Larry Taylor Jr. under Case Number 49G05-1511-MR-041732 and Case Number 49G05-1511-F1-044923;and the prosecution of Diano Gordon under Cause Number 49G05-1512-F4-043993 and 49G05-1601-MR-001659. The court recommends defendant be housed at New Castle Corrections Facility. Once the defendant has completed his cooperation with the state the court will consider reducing defendant sentence if he has clean conduct report.
Condition - Adult:
1. No Contact, See State's Registry, 03/12/2021, Active 03/12/2021

03/12/2021 = Sentenced
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
6. 35-43-2-1/F4:Burglary Burglary of a dwelling
Confinement to Commence: 03/12/2021
Indiana Department of Correction
Term: 10 Yr
Suspended: 0 Days
Concurrent with Prior Sentence: Count 5

03/12/2021 = Sentenced
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
9. 35-43-2-1/F4:Burglary Burglary of a dwelling
Confinement to Commence: 03/12/2021
Indiana Department of Correction
Term: 10 Yr
Suspended: 0 Days
Concurrent with Prior Sentence: Count 5 and 6

 

[FrostedGlass]

Watson's sentence for his part in the Taylor rape case (49D31-1512-F1-044923)
49D31-1512-F2-044927

03/12/2021 = Sentenced
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
1. 35-43-2-1/F2: Burglary with a deadly weapon.
Confinement to Commence: 03/12/2021
Indiana Department of Correction
Term: 29 Yr
Jail Credit: 1,941 Days
Suspended: 0 Days
Concurrent with Prior Sentence: 49D31-1512-F2-044927
Comment: Defendant sentence pursuant to plea agreement. Department of Corrections to award good time credit in accordance with Indiana Law. Credit time of time of 1941 days actual with 647 days earned as agreed upon all parties. The defendant to cooperate with the State of Indiana Law in the prosecution of Larry Taylor Jr. under Case Number 49G05-1511-MR-041732 and Case Number 49G05-1511-F1-044923;and the prosecution of Diano Gordon under Cause Number 49G05-1512-F4-043993 and 49G05-1601-MR-001659. The court recommends defendant be housed at New Castle Corrections Facility. Once the defendant has completed his cooperation with the state the court will consider reducing defendant sentence if he has clean conduct report.
Condition - Adult:
1. No Contact, See State's Registry, 03/12/2021, Active 03/12/2021

03/12/2021 = Amended Sentence
Reason: Other
Judicial Officer: Hawkins, Grant W
1. 35-43-2-1/F2: Burglary with a deadly weapon.
Confinement to Commence: 03/12/2021
Indiana Department of Correction
Term: 29 Yr
Jail Credit: 1,941 Days
Suspended: 0 Days
Concurrent with Prior Sentence: 49D31-1511-MR-041745
Comment: Defendant sentence pursuant to plea agreement. Department of Corrections to award good time credit in accordance with Indiana Law. Credit time of time of 1941 days actual with 647 days earned as agreed upon all parties. The defendant to cooperate with the State of Indiana Law in the prosecution of Larry Taylor Jr. under Case Number 49G05-1511-MR-041732 and Case Number 49G05-1511-F1-044923;and the prosecution of Diano Gordon under Cause Number 49G05-1512-F4-043993 and 49G05-1601-MR-001659. The court recommends defendant be housed at New Castle Corrections Facility. Once the defendant has completed his cooperation with the state the court will consider reducing defendant sentence if he has clean conduct report.
Condition - Adult:
1. No Contact, See State's Registry, 03/12/2021, Active 03/12/2021

 

[FrostedGlass]

Watson's cases are now all decided. His possession case was dismissed.

Jalen Watson
49D31-1711-F6-043561(poss. of Narcotic)
03/12/2021 = Status Conference
03/15/2021 = Judgment
Judicial Officer:Hawkins, Grant W

01. 35-48-4-6(a)/F6: Possession of a Narcotic Drug
• Dismissed
03/15/2021 = Order Granting Motion to Dismiss
Judicial Officer:Hawkins, Grant W
Order Signed: 03/15/2021

 

[Cardinal47]

The Justice System in the United States of America is broken. Criminals know this so they sit and shift and maneuver a broken system. All at the victim, victims families and taxpayers expense.
What will it take for a complete overhaul of this broken everything.

 

[FrostedGlass]

There have been no changes in Taylor's or Gordon's cases.

Larry Jo Taylor, Jr
49D31-1511-MR-041732 (Blackburn)
03/22/2021 = Hearing (comment: 702 hearing on cell phone about 3 hours)

49D31-1512-F1-044923 (Rape Case)
03/22/2021 = Pretrial Conference

49D31-1512-MR-045959 (Hernandez murder, no co-defendants)
03/22/2021 = Pretrial Conference
************************************
Diano Gordon
49D31-1512-F4-043993 (co-defendant in Blackburn murder case)
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing (05/23/2018 plea deal)

49D31-1907-F6-026082 (co-def Billy Holmes 49D31-1907-F6-026077)
04/05/2021 = Change of Plea Hearing

 

[FrostedGlass]

The Justice System in the United States of America is broken. Criminals know this so they sit and shift and maneuver a broken system. All at the victim, victims families and taxpayers expense.
What will it take for a complete overhaul of this broken everything.

I follow some cases that aren't on here just to see how the plea bargains shake out. Many times, it's jaw-dropping. But I do understand that when the family, friends, associates and witnesses won't cooperate, prosecution has their hands tied as to how far they can take the case.
We could have a thread on how to fix it all.

 

[Lilibet]

Thanks so much for keeping track of these cases @FrostedGlass. You and @Niner (another court watcher) are wonderful for sorting through the info to keep us all up to date!