Indianapolis – Last tuesday, Amanda Blackburn 28, was found critically injured after being shot in the head inside her house. She died Thursday, being 12 weeks pregnant with her second child.

Law enforcement authorities announced last Friday in a press conference that hey have new information on the case. “To the individual who committed this crime: You are not as good as you think you are,” said Eric Hench of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, according to USA Today.

According to police officials, an earlier burglary in the neighborhood where the Blackburns live may be linked to the case. Although there weren’t no signs of forced entry into the home, the police believes that the suspect saw an opportunity when Davey, Amanda’s husband, left for the gym.

What is clear is that the murder case has shaken the community, as law enforcement officials said that there are a lot of “angry and tired detectives working the case”. Doug Carter, of the Indiana State Police, said that their are going after the responsible of this crime. “We are coming. We are coming,” he said.

Amanda-Balckburn-pastor-wife
Authorities say the pregnant wife of an Indianapolis pastor slain during a home robbery had been shot in the head. Credit: NBC Chicago

Early in the morning

 

She was found around 8:30 am in her home, in the 2800 block of Sunnyfield Court. Police believes that the suspect broke into their house. Blackburn lived in the home with her husband Davey, a pastor of the Resonate Church, and their 1-year-old son that remained unharmed. Amanda’s organs were procured for donation.

The Blackburn family had moved from South Carolina in 2012, to start the Resonate Church. Davey Blackburn found his wife on the floor when he returned from the gym Tuesday morning. Amanda’s husband was ruled out as a suspect.

Footage found by the police shows a male suspect between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, slim-to-medium build, wearing light pants and a two-colored hoodie. The police could recover the face of the suspect from the footage, although he tried to hide it from neighbors.

Also, a dark SUV was reported in the area, as neighbors reported hearing shots. Police officials say that they are handling other information that wasn’t revealed and they also stated that they will release the suspect’s photo and other images when forensics ended their analysis.

However, Indiana State Police said that they are offering a $1000 reward for any information that could help the case.

The criminal’s future in jail

The person responsible for the murder is potentially facing decades in prison for this crime, as the fact that the victim was pregnant could worsen the sentence. Legal experts say that anyone arrested, with connection to the crime, could be charged beyond the murder.

This means that the murderer could be facing more than 45 to 65 years of prison given that some of these cases could be punishable even with the death penalty. It depends on how the state prosecutor approach the case, and also if the killer knew or didn’t knew if the victim was pregnant.

Faith as a guide

Davey Blackburn said on his church’s Facebook page last Friday that he “cannot thank you (the police and the community) enough for the unbelievable outpouring of love that you have shared with my family over the past few days. We are going to have church this Sunday, just like we always do.”

Source: USA Today