RAPID CITY - The 22-year-old Rapid City man charged with murdering a 44-year-old woman made his initial court appearance Tuesday.

Tad Blackburn appeared before 7th Circuit Magistrate Judge Shawn Pahlke. Blackburn is charged with murdering Tamara Magic of Rapid City.

Ken Varns, deputy state's attorney for Pennington County, said Blackburn is charged with first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence upon conviction of life in prison or the death penalty.

Prosecutors will decide later in the case whether to pursue the death penalty.

Magic was found dead Thursday night at her home on the 100 block of East St. Charles Street.

Police said Blackburn and Magic knew each other.

Blackburn is also charged with an alternate count of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction.

Because the two murder charges are alternate counts, Blackburn cannot be convicted of both.

He also faces a charge of driving under the influence.

Varns said Box Elder police arrested Blackburn after Magic's body was found.

Blackburn had been drinking at the time.

Pahlke did not set bond for Blackburn on Tuesday. He remains in custody at Pennington County Jail.

Varns said autopsy results for Magic are pending.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com