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INDIANAPOLIS » The pregnant wife of an Indianapolis pastor slain during a home robbery died of a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said Thursday.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office released the cause of death for Amanda Blackburn, 28, of Indianapolis following an autopsy and ruled her death a homicide.
Blackburn was pronounced dead Wednesday after being on life support since the shooting Tuesday morning, the coroner’s office said.
Police believe the shooting took place during a robbery, but have revealed few details, The Indianapolis Star reported. A news conference on the case was planned for Friday.
A statement released by the church founded by her husband, Davey Blackburn, said someone had broken into the couple’s home.
Amanda Blackburn was 13 weeks pregnant, and the child did not survive, family spokeswoman Suzanne Swift said. The Blackburns also have a 15-month-old son, Weston.
"My wife was such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God," Davey Blackburn said in a statement posted on the church’s Facebook page. "I have not only lost my ministry partner and support but also my very best friend. … As deeply as I am hurting I am hopeful and confident that good things will come of this."
Amanda and Davey Blackburn moved from South Carolina to found the independent Resonate Church in Indianapolis in 2012. Both of their fathers are pastors.
Amanda Blackburn’s father is lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana, and Davey Blackburn’s father, Dave Blackburn, is lead pastor at Next Church in Brevard, North Carolina, Swift said.
