Topline: Friends and family say Rachel Long would never have taken her own life, further raising questions about her husband’s story.
Published: March 8, 2026 8:06 am ET
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Kyle Long (via Tri-County Jail)
LONDON, OH — An Ohio man accused of killing his wife inside their home was ordered held on a $1.5 million bond Friday as new details emerged about the investigation into the woman’s death, which was initially reported as a suicide.
Kyle Long, 35, appeared in Madison County Municipal Court for his arraignment after being charged with murder in the October 2025 death of his wife, Rachel Long, according to CBS News.
Deputies were first called to the couple’s home on state Route 187 in London on Oct. 23, 2025, for what was reported as a suicide, WBNS reported. Authorities said Long told a 911 dispatcher his wife had stabbed herself several times while inside the home.
In the emergency call, Long said, “My wife just stabbed herself. There’s no pulse, blood all over the place,” according to WSYX.
Long also told deputies that Rachel had gone into the bedroom while he was watching television in another room and that he later heard laughing followed by screaming, WSYX reported. When he checked on her, he alleged she was stabbing herself in the face and neck.
Rachel Long, a mother of two who owned a grooming business and was well known in the community, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WBNS.
But investigators quickly began treating the case as suspicious. Madison County Sheriff John Swaney said deputies suspected something was wrong from the beginning because Long was the only other person inside the home at the time.
“Ever since we responded to the residence up there, investigated this as suspicious from the beginning, Mr. Long was the only person in the residence,” Swaney told WSYX.
According to a criminal complaint cited by WBNS, Long also told deputies that his wife had recently wanted a “separation from marriage.”
An autopsy conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office found Rachel Long suffered at least 17 sharp-force injuries across her body, including wounds on both of her hands, WBNS reported. Investigators said the injuries appeared to be defensive-type wounds, which conflicted with Long’s statement that his wife was holding the knife only in her right hand.
Detectives also uncovered discrepancies in Long’s statements during the investigation. When questioned a second time, court documents state his responses conflicted with what he initially told investigators and with evidence collected at the scene, according to WBNS and WSYX.
Authorities also determined that Long had called 911, hung up, and then called again four minutes later — a timeline that did not match his earlier account to detectives, WBNS reported. Investigators said the final text message Rachel sent to a friend occurred before Long’s first 911 call.
That friend told detectives the pair had been discussing what to wear to an upcoming concert and that Rachel never mentioned being suicidal or angry, according to court documents cited by WBNS.
Others close to Rachel have also questioned the suicide claim. Childhood friend Britany Mattox told WSYX she did not believe Rachel would have taken her own life.
“That was not Rachel,” Mattox said. “This is not the way she would have handled a situation in her life, just not her.”
Customer Melissa Cooper said Rachel’s death has left a deep void in the community.
“She liked helping people, and I loved people like that,” Cooper told WSYX. “That’s something that’s now missing, a bright light taken from many of us.”
Long was arrested Wednesday following a four-month investigation and booked into the Tri-County Regional Jail, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors had asked the court to set bond at $2 million, while Long’s attorney requested an appearance bond before the judge ultimately set bail at $1.5 million, WSYX reported.
Long’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, said his client denies any responsibility for his wife’s death.
“He has continuously maintained he did not cause her death, and he maintains that today,” Shamansky said, according to WSYX. “It doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination, it’s a horrible, tragic event, for which he bears no responsibility, only sorrow.”
Shamansky added that Long has cooperated with investigators throughout the probe.
“His electronics were seized, his work computer, so he’s been fully aware the spotlight has been on him,” Shamansky told WSYX. “Has continued to cooperate and make himself available.”
Sheriff Swaney said the months-long investigation was necessary to ensure all evidence and reports were carefully reviewed before charges were filed.
“We had to make sure—all agencies involved—we got those reports back, and put all the evidence back, and that they all align,” Swaney told WSYX.
Prosecutors plan to present the case to a grand jury in the coming weeks, and Shamansky said he expects his client to be indicted on murder charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Husband’s Suicide Claim Unravels After Wife Found With 17 Stab Wounds
Friends and family say Rachel Long would never have taken her own life, further raising questions about her husband’s story.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 8, 2026 8:06 am ET
Kyle Long (via Tri-County Jail)
LONDON, OH — An Ohio man accused of killing his wife inside their home was ordered held on a $1.5 million bond Friday as new details emerged about the investigation into the woman’s death, which was initially reported as a suicide.
Kyle Long, 35, appeared in Madison County Municipal Court for his arraignment after being charged with murder in the October 2025 death of his wife, Rachel Long, according to CBS News.
Deputies were first called to the couple’s home on state Route 187 in London on Oct. 23, 2025, for what was reported as a suicide, WBNS reported. Authorities said Long told a 911 dispatcher his wife had stabbed herself several times while inside the home.
In the emergency call, Long said, “My wife just stabbed herself. There’s no pulse, blood all over the place,” according to WSYX.
Long also told deputies that Rachel had gone into the bedroom while he was watching television in another room and that he later heard laughing followed by screaming, WSYX reported. When he checked on her, he alleged she was stabbing herself in the face and neck.
Rachel Long, a mother of two who owned a grooming business and was well known in the community, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WBNS.
But investigators quickly began treating the case as suspicious. Madison County Sheriff John Swaney said deputies suspected something was wrong from the beginning because Long was the only other person inside the home at the time.
“Ever since we responded to the residence up there, investigated this as suspicious from the beginning, Mr. Long was the only person in the residence,” Swaney told WSYX.
According to a criminal complaint cited by WBNS, Long also told deputies that his wife had recently wanted a “separation from marriage.”
An autopsy conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office found Rachel Long suffered at least 17 sharp-force injuries across her body, including wounds on both of her hands, WBNS reported. Investigators said the injuries appeared to be defensive-type wounds, which conflicted with Long’s statement that his wife was holding the knife only in her right hand.
Detectives also uncovered discrepancies in Long’s statements during the investigation. When questioned a second time, court documents state his responses conflicted with what he initially told investigators and with evidence collected at the scene, according to WBNS and WSYX.
Authorities also determined that Long had called 911, hung up, and then called again four minutes later — a timeline that did not match his earlier account to detectives, WBNS reported. Investigators said the final text message Rachel sent to a friend occurred before Long’s first 911 call.
That friend told detectives the pair had been discussing what to wear to an upcoming concert and that Rachel never mentioned being suicidal or angry, according to court documents cited by WBNS.
Others close to Rachel have also questioned the suicide claim. Childhood friend Britany Mattox told WSYX she did not believe Rachel would have taken her own life.
“That was not Rachel,” Mattox said. “This is not the way she would have handled a situation in her life, just not her.”
Customer Melissa Cooper said Rachel’s death has left a deep void in the community.
“She liked helping people, and I loved people like that,” Cooper told WSYX. “That’s something that’s now missing, a bright light taken from many of us.”
Long was arrested Wednesday following a four-month investigation and booked into the Tri-County Regional Jail, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors had asked the court to set bond at $2 million, while Long’s attorney requested an appearance bond before the judge ultimately set bail at $1.5 million, WSYX reported.
Long’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, said his client denies any responsibility for his wife’s death.
“He has continuously maintained he did not cause her death, and he maintains that today,” Shamansky said, according to WSYX. “It doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination, it’s a horrible, tragic event, for which he bears no responsibility, only sorrow.”
Shamansky added that Long has cooperated with investigators throughout the probe.
“His electronics were seized, his work computer, so he’s been fully aware the spotlight has been on him,” Shamansky told WSYX. “Has continued to cooperate and make himself available.”
Sheriff Swaney said the months-long investigation was necessary to ensure all evidence and reports were carefully reviewed before charges were filed.
“We had to make sure—all agencies involved—we got those reports back, and put all the evidence back, and that they all align,” Swaney told WSYX.
Prosecutors plan to present the case to a grand jury in the coming weeks, and Shamansky said he expects his client to be indicted on murder charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Husband’s Suicide Claim Unravels After Wife Found With 17 Stab Wounds
Friends and family say Rachel Long would never have taken her own life, further raising questions about her husband’s story.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 8, 2026 8:06 am ET
Kyle Long (via Tri-County Jail)
LONDON, OH — An Ohio man accused of killing his wife inside their home was ordered held on a $1.5 million bond Friday as new details emerged about the investigation into the woman’s death, which was initially reported as a suicide.
Kyle Long, 35, appeared in Madison County Municipal Court for his arraignment after being charged with murder in the October 2025 death of his wife, Rachel Long, according to CBS News.
Deputies were first called to the couple’s home on state Route 187 in London on Oct. 23, 2025, for what was reported as a suicide, WBNS reported. Authorities said Long told a 911 dispatcher his wife had stabbed herself several times while inside the home.
In the emergency call, Long said, “My wife just stabbed herself. There’s no pulse, blood all over the place,” according to WSYX.
Long also told deputies that Rachel had gone into the bedroom while he was watching television in another room and that he later heard laughing followed by screaming, WSYX reported. When he checked on her, he alleged she was stabbing herself in the face and neck.
Rachel Long, a mother of two who owned a grooming business and was well known in the community, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WBNS.
But investigators quickly began treating the case as suspicious. Madison County Sheriff John Swaney said deputies suspected something was wrong from the beginning because Long was the only other person inside the home at the time.
“Ever since we responded to the residence up there, investigated this as suspicious from the beginning, Mr. Long was the only person in the residence,” Swaney told WSYX.
According to a criminal complaint cited by WBNS, Long also told deputies that his wife had recently wanted a “separation from marriage.”
An autopsy conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office found Rachel Long suffered at least 17 sharp-force injuries across her body, including wounds on both of her hands, WBNS reported. Investigators said the injuries appeared to be defensive-type wounds, which conflicted with Long’s statement that his wife was holding the knife only in her right hand.
Detectives also uncovered discrepancies in Long’s statements during the investigation. When questioned a second time, court documents state his responses conflicted with what he initially told investigators and with evidence collected at the scene, according to WBNS and WSYX.
Authorities also determined that Long had called 911, hung up, and then called again four minutes later — a timeline that did not match his earlier account to detectives, WBNS reported. Investigators said the final text message Rachel sent to a friend occurred before Long’s first 911 call.
That friend told detectives the pair had been discussing what to wear to an upcoming concert and that Rachel never mentioned being suicidal or angry, according to court documents cited by WBNS.
Others close to Rachel have also questioned the suicide claim. Childhood friend Britany Mattox told WSYX she did not believe Rachel would have taken her own life.
“That was not Rachel,” Mattox said. “This is not the way she would have handled a situation in her life, just not her.”
Customer Melissa Cooper said Rachel’s death has left a deep void in the community.
“She liked helping people, and I loved people like that,” Cooper told WSYX. “That’s something that’s now missing, a bright light taken from many of us.”
Long was arrested Wednesday following a four-month investigation and booked into the Tri-County Regional Jail, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors had asked the court to set bond at $2 million, while Long’s attorney requested an appearance bond before the judge ultimately set bail at $1.5 million, WSYX reported.
Long’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, said his client denies any responsibility for his wife’s death.
“He has continuously maintained he did not cause her death, and he maintains that today,” Shamansky said, according to WSYX. “It doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination, it’s a horrible, tragic event, for which he bears no responsibility, only sorrow.”
Shamansky added that Long has cooperated with investigators throughout the probe.
“His electronics were seized, his work computer, so he’s been fully aware the spotlight has been on him,” Shamansky told WSYX. “Has continued to cooperate and make himself available.”
Sheriff Swaney said the months-long investigation was necessary to ensure all evidence and reports were carefully reviewed before charges were filed.
“We had to make sure—all agencies involved—we got those reports back, and put all the evidence back, and that they all align,” Swaney told WSYX.
Prosecutors plan to present the case to a grand jury in the coming weeks, and Shamansky said he expects his client to be indicted on murder charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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