Family's van provides new clue in case of slain children 6

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2002-11-04

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--> --> Family's van provides new clue in case of slain children WALDPORT (AP) - A van belonging to the family of two children whose bodies were found along the Oregon coast last week has been located in Wilsonville, Lincoln County District Attorney Bernice Barnett said today. Additional details were to be released later today on the investigation into the murders of Zachary Michael Longo, 5, and Sadie Ann Longo, 3, whose bodies were found three days apart in Lint Slough, which empties into Alsea Bay. Christian Michael Longo, 27, the father of the boy and girl, has a history of fraud and was recently charged with theft in Lincoln County. He was charged Dec. 11 with a crime that occurred Sept. 12, and he left a trail of charges in Michigan, where the family lived before moving to Oregon several months ago. The whereabouts of Christian Longo; his wife, Mary Jane Longo, 35; and their youngest child, Madison Longo, 2, remained unknown today. Zachary's body was discovered Dec. 19 floating about two feet from shore near the mouth of the slough. Divers searching for evidence Saturday recovered Sadie's body submerged in water about 150 yards from where her brother was found. Police spent Christmas Day following about a dozen leads called in since Monday, Barnett said. Autopsies of the children have been completed, but details were being withheld by the medical examiner. Barnett, the Lincoln County district attorney, said she had no information about Christian Longo's recent theft charge. Lincoln County Circuit Judge Robert J. Huckleberry on Dec. 17 denied a motion to issue a warrant for Longo's arrest. Barnett refused to divulge whether police think the Longo parents were victims themselves or were somehow involved in their children's deaths. Barnett said investigators might release photos of the Longos today, so the public can help police find them. The Detroit Free Press reported that police are also looking for another car that belongs to the family, a dark green Dodge Durango with a Michigan license plate. Before their move to Oregon, the Longos spent at least seven years in Washtenaw County, Mich. In 1997, the Longos bought a brick ranch-style house. Using his new home as a base, Christian Longo opened a construction cleaning firm in February 2000. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing