On an August evening in 2013, the lives of Myeisha J. Turner and her young daughter were brought to a tragic and violent end in their Kansas City, Missouri, home. Myeisha, a 28-year-old mother who was studying to become a registered nurse while working as a caregiver, was found deceased inside her duplex in the 5500 block of Wabash Avenue on August 23rd. Alongside her was the body of her 3-year-old daughter, Damiah L. White. The grim discovery was made by a family member who found the back door of the home open.
The scene that confronted authorities was one of profound tragedy. Left alive amidst the violence was Myeisha's 11-month-old son, who was found wandering traumatized inside the residence, having been alone with his deceased mother and sister for an unknown number of hours. The community reacted with outrage and sorrow, holding prayer vigils and marches, pleading for information that would lead to the identification of the person responsible for the execution-style killings. For a long time, the case remained a painful open wound for the city, a stark reminder of a predator at large.
Years later, investigators identified a suspect in the brutal double homicide. Rashawn Long, a known member of the 51st Street Crips with a history of violence, was named in court documents and testimony as the individual responsible for the deaths of Myeisha and Damiah. While he was not formally charged with their murders, the connection was made during his sentencing for other federal drug and gun crimes. In February 2016, a judge sentenced Long to 30 years in prison, a sentence significantly longer than federal guidelines suggested. The judge cited Long's extensive and violent criminal history, which included his alleged involvement in at least five murders, including those of the young mother and her child, as the reason for the severe sentence, stating it was necessary to protect the public.
