INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - A second suspect has agreed to plead guilty in the Amanda Blackburn case, in exchange for not having to face a murder charge.
In a plea agreement submitted to the court Tuesday, Diano Gordon pleaded guilty to robbery resulting in serious injury and two felony burglary charges. In exchange, the murder charge, an additional burglary charge and a theft charge were all dropped. Prosecutors also agreed not to charge him as an habitual offender.
- COMPLETE COVERAGE: Amanda Blackburn murder
His sentence was not included in writing as part of the deal, just a line saying "the parties are free to argue an appropriate sentence." Regardless of their length, all of his sentences will run concurrently.
Gordon agreed to testify against the other suspect in the case, Larry Taylor, Jr. Watson already pleaded guilty but has not yet been sentenced, so Gordon may be called on to testify at Watson's sentencing.
Amanda Blackburn was murdered in her northwest-side home in November 2015. She was married to local pastor Davey Blackburn and was pregnant at the time.
Davey Blackburn issued the following statement through his church Wednesday evening:
"On behalf of the Blackburn and Byars families we are encouraged to see the plea agreement between the state of Indiana and Diano Gordon officially tendered today. Although we will never be able to fully move on from losing Amanda, we are ready to move forward with what God has for each of our lives. Today marks another huge step in that process of closure. Thank you to everyone who continues to pray for and support our family as we walk this difficult road."