Accident – Death – Obituary News : A woman has been taken into custody in connection with a brutal 2023 homicide in Ocala, where a man was severely beaten, shot, and left in a vacant lot surrounded by trash. Jessica Lynn Long, aged 37, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder during a robbery. She made her first appearance in front of County Judge LeeAnn Mackey-Barnes via Zoom from the jail on Wednesday morning, where she was appointed the Public Defender’s Office for representation.
Long, who has a criminal history involving prostitution, drug possession, and grand theft, was informed by the judge that she would be held without bail due to the serious nature of the charges against her. If granted bail in the future, she must refrain from consuming alcohol, drugs, or illegal substances, and she cannot possess a firearm. Her next court date is scheduled for late March.
The alleged co-defendant in this case is Michael Rene Montgomery Jr., who is also in custody on multiple charges related to the homicide. Long has been ordered not to have any contact with Montgomery. Montgomery, aged 47, has a history of criminal offenses dating back to 1996, including drug possession, burglary, grand theft, and trafficking in stolen property. He was released from prison just two months before the tragic incident occurred.
The gruesome scene where the victim, Wayne Barlow, was found was described by Sheriff’s detectives as chilling. Barlow was discovered face down with severe lacerations at the back of his head, bruises on his body, and signs of road rash on his lower body. A bloody trail extended about 20 feet from where his body was found, with blood evident on various objects in the vicinity. Barlow’s wallet, containing his identification, helped authorities identify him.
An autopsy revealed that Barlow had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and puncture wounds on his body. Investigators learned from a woman who knew Barlow that he had invited a woman to his residence and later realized that his car, a Hyundai Sonata, was missing. The woman mentioned that Barlow had been at his home when the stolen vehicle arrived, and he willingly got into the car and left with the driver.
Law enforcement officers located Barlow’s stolen car being driven along U.S. 441 and pursued it to a wooded area, where they found Montgomery and Long hiding in a body of water. Both individuals were brought in for questioning, during which they provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to Barlow’s death.
In a shocking turn of events, Montgomery admitted to detectives that he and Long had planned to rob Barlow, with the intention of stealing his car and leaving the scene. He claimed that Long had orchestrated the plan, and when Barlow resisted, a violent altercation ensued, resulting in his tragic death. Another individual involved in the incident corroborated Montgomery’s account, leading to the arrest of Long and Montgomery.
As the investigation continues, detectives are piecing together more evidence linking Long and Montgomery to the murder of Wayne Barlow. The community is left reeling from this senseless act of violence, and justice must prevail for the victim and his loved ones..