Woman suspected of murder makes first appearance in front of judge
A woman suspected in a heinous 2023 homicide where a man was severely beaten, shot and abandoned in a vacant lot filled with garbage was taken into custody on Tuesday.
Jessica Lynn Long was booked into the county jail at 4:27 p.m., charged with murder while engaged in robbery.
The 37-year-old woman appeared via Zoom from the jail in front of County Judge LeeAnn Mackey-Barnes on Wednesday morning for her first appearance.
Handcuffed and wearing jail uniform, the Ocala woman was appointed the Public Defender's Office for representation.
Her criminal history consists of prostitution, drug possession and principal to grand theft.
Alleged co-defendant
The judge told Long she will be held without bail based on the nature of the allegation and her criminal history. If at some point she does have the chance to post bond, the judge said Long cannot consume any alcohol, drugs or illegal substances and cannot possess a firearm.
Her next court date is in late March.
Long's co-defendant is Michael Rene Montgomery Jr. He also is being held in jail on multiple offenses, some of which are connected to the death. The judge said Long cannot have any contact with Montgomery.
Montgomery, 47, has been in and out of prison since August 1996 for various offenses including drug possession, burglary, grand theft and trafficking in stolen property, according to state documents.
Records show the Reddick man is a convicted felon who was released from prison two months before the homicide.
Grizzly scene
Sheriff's detectives said they were called to the 7600 block of Northwest 77th Terrace to investigate a suspicious death in late June 2023.
A man told deputies that when he drove by the area around 4:30 p.m., there wasn't a body. Returning two hours later, the man said he saw what first resembled an animal. Looking closely, the man noticed it was a human body and called 911.
Authorities said the victim, later identified as Wayne Barlow, was discovered face down, barefoot, with several lacerations at the back of his head. His body was wedged between a tree and some vines. Deputies said the victim was mere feet away from a busy roadway.
The scene was bloody, and a closer look at Barlow's body showed he had bruises on his arms, legs and torso. His lower body showed signs of road rash. Law enforcement officials found a bloody trail that extended about 20 feet. Officials said there was blood on leaves, a tree trunk, a rock and a Styrofoam food container.
Detectives found Barlow's wallet that had his driver's license. That is how they identified him.
An autopsy indicated Barlow had a gunshot wound to the head and puncture wounds to his body.
Barlow's stolen car
Investigators found a woman who knew Barlow. She told them Barlow told her he invited a woman to his residence. He said he got drunk, passed out, and when he woke up, his car, a Hyundai Sonata, was missing.
The woman said although Barlow complained about his stolen vehicle, he was at his residence when someone driving the Hyundai showed up and he (Barlow) got in the passenger's seat and left.
A woman who told detectives she was Barlow's girlfriend said Barlow visited her several hours before his death. She said he was alone in his vehicle and he told her he was going to do a job. She said she tried calling him, but was unsuccessful.
After Barlow's death, deputies searched for his car. They received information that the vehicle was being driven along U.S. 441. Deputies saw the vehicle and tried to stop it. The vehicle took off and deputies pursued it.
The vehicle stopped in a wooded area just west of County Road 475. Searching the area, they found two people, Montgomery and Long, hiding in a body of water.
Long, who had a warrant for her arrest, and Montgomery, who was on probation, were taken to the sheriff's office for interviews.
Detective interviews
In Long's interview, she told detectives she was in Barlow's car prior to the chase and Montgomery was driving. She claimed Barlow was helping her out by paying her to drive him around.
Long told detectives she has difficulty remembering things because of brain damage. She said a third person was in the car with her and Montgomery.
Montgomery was interviewed by the detectives. He told them the plan was for Long to have sex with the victim. He and another man would be close by. He said they planned to steal the victim's car and then leave. He claimed it was Long's plan.
Montgomery said Barlow realized he was going to be robbed and began fighting them. He said he and other man held Barlow. He alleged the other man hit Barlow with a metal pipe.
Montgomery said he was punching Barlow when the other man shot Barlow. Montgomery said Long gave the other man the gun. He said he participated in the incident for free drugs and sex.
A third interview
Detectives found the other man and interviewed him. He told them Long and Montgomery planned to rob Barlow. He said Montgomery used a black wire to choke the victim. The man claimed Montgomery beat Barlow with a pipe and also shot the victim.
The man told detectives he assisted with cleaning the victim's car because he knew his DNA would be in the vehicle.
Continuing with their investigation, detectives found additional evidence that they believe connect Long and Montgomery to Barlow's murder.
Two shootings, one dead: Ocala police investigate two shootings, one of them fatal
The second man was not arrested by detectives.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala woman charged with murder makes court appearance Wednesday
