Blackburn’s sister-in-law indicted for lying to FBI

Kim Smith

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

A new indictment has been issued against the sister-in-law of Timothy Blackburn, the suspected bank repository robber who killed himself and his family during a shootout with police last summer.

Seila Lim was indicted in September on one count of lying to FBI agents when they were looking for Blackburn in the days following his escape from the North Las Vegas Detention Center.

Lim told FBI agents during the search that the Nissan Pathfinder sometimes driven by her brother-in-law was being repaired at an auto dealership when it was not, court records show.

On Wednesday Lim was indicted on two additional counts of providing false statements.

According to the new indictment Lim lied when she told FBI agents that she worked at the Mirage hotel-casino and did not mention that she also worked at the Bank of America across the street from the Bank of America Blackburn was accused of robbing.

The indictment also accuses Lim of lying about the whereabouts of another vehicle Blackburn sometimes drove, a grey Isuzo Rodeo. A vehicle matching that description is believed to have been used during the robbery of the Colonial Bank on West Lake Mead Boulevard on the same day as the Bank of America robbery.

Lim told FBI agents that she gave Blackburn a ride from her parents' house on Dec. 31, 1998, and he had parked the Isuzo near their home. When FBI agents went to look for the vehicle it was not there.

Authorities believe Blackburn, Robert Bates and unnamed others robbed the Bank of American satellite vault at 4215 East Charleston Ave. of more than $1 million on Dec. 21, 1998.

Blackburn was arrested 10 days later, but in August, with the aid of his wife, Lim's sister, Sophia Lim, Blackburn broke out of jail.

Three weeks later, Blackburn killed himself, his wife and two small children.

Two days before the Blackburn family's memorial service, Seila Lim was indicted the first time. Blackburn's brother, Terry Blackburn, also was indicted for aiding in his escape -- by allowing his brother to use his driver's license in the days following the escape.