In the autumn of 2015, a series of violent crimes unfolded in Indianapolis, forever altering the lives of several families. On November 4th, 26-year-old Rolando Gonzalez-Hernandez was found deceased next to his car in an apartment complex parking lot. He had been fatally shot in the head in what appeared to be a robbery. The senseless act had seemingly been committed for a mere $10 that was taken from his wallet.
The investigation into the death of Gonzalez-Hernandez, a male, soon became
intertwined with another high-profile case that shocked the city. Just days later, on November 10th, Amanda Blackburn, the 28-year-old pregnant wife of a local pastor, was killed during a home invasion. As law enforcement diligently worked to piece together the evidence from both crimes, a common thread began to emerge, pointing to a violent crime spree.
This connection led authorities to 18-year-old Larry Jo Taylor Jr. and his 21-year-old co-defendant, Jalen Watson. Investigators alleged that the two were involved in a series of burglaries and violent acts. Three witnesses eventually came forward, stating that Taylor had confessed to them about robbing and shooting someone at the very apartment complex where Gonzalez-Hernandez's body was discovered. Based on this and other evidence, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office formally charged Taylor with the murder and robbery of Rolando Gonzalez-Hernandez. These charges were in addition to the murder, burglary, and other charges he and Watson faced in relation to the death of Amanda Blackburn and another home invasion that occurred on November 3rd.
