A 27-year-old man was arrested in Santa Rosa County this week, charged with attempted murder in the beating of an Alabama man nearly eight years ago. His father was picked up the same day in Okaloosa County, charged in the same crime that occured in Wing, Ala., on New Year’s Eve 2005.
Jackie Darrell Long, 54, and his son, 27-year-old Shane Darrell Long, were arrested Friday, according to the Covington County, Ala., district attorney’s office. They were charged with attempted murder, robbery and burglary.
The Longs are charged with beating Henry Jordan in his home while his wife, children and grandchildren were present, District Attorney Walt Merrell said at a news conference Friday.
“The Longs knocked on Mr. Jordan’s door and made entry in the predawn hours,” Merrell said. “They attempted to rob Mr. Jordan and commit a theft, but it went bad. Mr. Jordan suffered massive blunt force trauma to the left orbital socket and temple region and forehead. He also suffered a significant skull fracture and had permanent loss of sight in his left eye.”
Nothing was taken and Merrell said law officers could not develop leads immediately after the attack.
Jordan died in 2007 from his injuries, Merrell said. He was 62.
“There is some medical evidence to support Mr. Jordan’s death was a result of the home invasion,” Merrell said.
He added that information yet to be obtained from two of Jordan’s doctors who now are out of state could shed more light on the case.
“If both agree that with no doubt Mr. Jordan’s death was a result of the home invasion, you may see an additional indictment for murder or even capital murder,” Merrell said.
Members of the U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force arrested the Longs.
Shane Long, whose address is listed as Holt, was arrested at a home in Santa Rosa County, the district attorney’s office reported. Jackie Long was arrested at his home in Okaloosa
They were being held in the Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County jails Saturday. They are expected to be extradited to Covington County.
The arrests were the first ones to come from efforts of the district attorney’s Cold Case Task Force.
The Andalusia Star and Northwest Florida Daily News contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Man arrested in Santa Rosa for Alabama attempted murder