In July 2017, the quiet community of Fair Grove, Missouri, was shaken by the violent death of 54-year-old Jennifer McDaris. On July 19, McDaris was found shot to death inside her home, sparking an immediate homicide investigation by local authorities. The incident was brought to the attention of law enforcement when the suspect involved in the shooting traveled to the Springfield Police Department headquarters to turn himself in, reportedly hours after the crime had occurred.
The
individual arrested in connection with the killing was identified as Ellman Long, a 70-year-old man who was in a relationship with the victim. Upon surrendering to the police, Long provided a confession detailing the events that led to the fatal shooting. He alleged that on the day of the murder, McDaris had been using methamphetamine and had begun aggressively berating him, accusing him of infidelity. Long claimed that her behavior made him feel threatened and uncertain of her next actions, which he cited as his motivation for retrieving a handgun and shooting her.
Following his confession, prosecutors charged Long with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. During the initial legal proceedings, he was held on a $150,000 bond. Court records from the time indicated that after the shooting, Long had contemplated suicide and drove around aimlessly before eventually deciding to report the incident to the police. While the initial arrest and charges were widely publicized, detailed records regarding a final conviction or sentencing have not been prominently featured in subsequent public reports.
