In November 2015, Davey Blackburn’s life was irrevocably shattered when his wife, Amanda, was brutally murdered in their Indianapolis home. The devastating crime not only claimed the life of a beloved pastor’s wife and a 28-year-old mother but also their unborn child. Amanda was 13 weeks pregnant.
In the years since, Davey has faced the monumental task of rebuilding his life, grappling with grief, and coming to terms with unimaginable loss.
Amanda Blackburn was more than just a wife and mother. She was a beacon of selflessness, living her life in service to others. Davey remembers her as the stabilizer of their family, someone who brought balance and rhythm to their lives. Her commitment to her family and her unwavering faith made her an anchor, not just for Davey, but for everyone who knew her. “She lived her life for something bigger than herself,” Davey reflects. Amanda’s presence was a source of strength, a role she embraced wholeheartedly.
The tragic events of November 10, 2015, unfolded when Davey left for the gym early in the morning. Unbeknownst to him, three men on a crime spree had targeted their home after seeing him leave. Amanda was home alone and became an unintended victim of their violence. The men broke into the Blackburn home and, in a senseless act, shot Amanda three times. Davey returned to find his wife unconscious on the living room floor, clinging to life. She was rushed to the hospital, but despite all efforts, Amanda and their unborn child could not be saved.
The loss was a catastrophic blow, leaving Davey to navigate a labyrinth of grief, guilt, and the haunting question of why such a tragedy was allowed to happen. As a pastor, Davey had often spoken about the importance of forgiveness, but now he was faced with the challenge of living out that message in the most personal way possible. “I had preached messages prior to all of this about how it’s important to forgive… and then I was confronted with, do you really believe what the Bible says?” he recalls. Forgiveness was not a natural response; it was a decision Davey had to consciously make, day after day.
One of the hardest aspects of moving forward was helping his young son, Weston, cope with the loss of his mother. Just 15 months old at the time, Weston didn’t understand what had happened. As he grows older, the reality of his mother’s death and the circumstances surrounding it become more apparent. Davey approaches these conversations with sensitivity, ensuring that Weston is only exposed to as much as he can handle at any given age. “We just take it a day at a time, a decision at a time,” Davey explains. His hope is that Weston will grow up with a deeper understanding of how to navigate suffering and live well in a challenging world.
