INDIANAPOLIS — The third suspect charged in the 2015 death of Amanda Blackburn reached a plea deal on Monday.
Diano Gordon pled guilty by agreement to robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and was ordered to serve a 30-year sentence for his role in the fatal robbery of Amanda Blackburn.
He'll serve 25 years in prison with five years of his sentence suspended, according to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office.
According to online court records, two murder counts, a burglary count, a theft count and a habitual offender county were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Earlier this month, Larry Jo Taylor was found guilty of two counts of murder but not guilty of a third in Blackburn's death after a bench trial.
Blackburn was 28-years-old and pregnant when she was killed in the Nov. 10, 2015, shooting.
Gordon, Taylor, and a third suspect, Jalen Watson, were accused of entering Blackburn's house on Sunnyfield Court sometime between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 10, 2015. According to police, the men assaulted her and then shot her in the head.
Watson pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of burglary in 2017. On March 12, 2021, Marion Superior Court Judge Grant Hawkins sentenced Watson to 29 years in prison. Hawkins noted in the order that he will consider reducing the sentence after Watson cooperates with prosecutors and if he stays on good behavior in prison.
Under terms of the plea agreement, records show prosecutors dismissed murder, burglary, theft and auto theft charges against Watson.
-
Indy Autonomous Challenge aims to help improve self-driving cars
PHD students from all over the country programmed AI drivers to cars as part of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.IMPD releases bodycam footage of deadly shooting of carjacking suspect
IMPD released body cam footage of a shooting in which officers killed a 20-year-old alleged carjacking suspect on the city’s northeast side in May.Early voting for presidential election to be held at 8 satellite voting centers
Early voting will start on October 8 at the City-County Building, and on October 26 at eight different satellite centers."I'm embarrassed": City-county councilors, residents urge action on Indy parks
Indianapolis city county councilors and residents are reacting to a WRTV Investigation that raised concerns about the condition of some Indianapolis parks.