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12-Year-Old In Custody After Deaths Of Parents


BURLINGTON, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - A 12-year-old boy questioned in the double homicide of his parents is now in police custody. He appeared before a judge in Fort Morgan Wednesday evening.

The case has been turned over to District Attorney Robert E. Watson with the 13th Judicial District. There are no other suspects in the Burlington homicides, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

It all started with a 911 call from the 12-year-old inside the home located at 783 Lowell just after 6:48 p.m. Tuesday.

Charles-Long
Charles Long (credit: www.acousticguitarcommunity.com)

When officers arrived he told them that shots had been fired. Police found the boy's parents, Marilyn Long, 51, and Charles Long, 50, dead. They had been shot.

Two of the Longs' other children, a girl, 5, and a boy, 9, were flown to a Denver hospital in critical condition after being seen at the Regional Medical Center. They are expected to survive. Detectives will not say how the children were harmed.

Wednesday evening, friends gathered with candles outside the Long home.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Division Director Steve Johnson released a statement Wednesday afternoon during a news conference in Burlington.

"As a result of the investigation we have conducted so far, we are here this afternoon to announce that the twelve-year-old family member who placed the 911 call from the residence has been taken into custody. The case has been referred to the District Attorney's office for the filing of formal charges," said Johnson. "There are no other suspects at this time. Again, we do not think that there is any further risk to the community."

Burlington Crime
( credit: CBS)

Neighbors are shocked because they describe the Longs as a model family.

"They're good people, you know. They're, as far as I know, they're productive members of the community. I wouldn't expect to have this happen to them," said neighbor Josh Schlichenmayer.

"I don't think any kid should have to go through what those kids went through," said family friend Lloyd Rodriguez. "It surprised me knowing that they were very nice and very well respected kids. They are church goers, they're real Christian, they go to church."

The family's pastor told CBS4's Rick Sallinger the 12-year-old worked as a greeter at the church.

Charles Long drove a FritoLay truck for a living. Neighbors said he would give away free chips to the neighborhood kids.

frito-lay-truck
The FritoLay truck Charles Long drove before he was shot and killed. (credit: CBS)

Charles was also an avid acoustic guitar player and wrote a blog called "Long's Health and Fitness." In it he wrote, "I'm a husband and father of seven who works hard to provide for my family and stay in shape."

Police said the Long parents, along with their children ages 12, 9 and 7, lived in the home. They also had other children who had grown and moved out of the family's home.

The investigation is a joint effort involving the Burlington Police Department, the Kit Carson County Sheriff, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the 13th Judicial District Attorney.

Burlington Crime
(credit: CBS)

Marilyn and Charles Long had seven children. Charles maintained a blog online called Long Health and Fitness. Neighbors told CBS4 that the Longs have been actively involved in the church and that they were a great family. Charles said in his blog that his favorite book is the Bible.

Burlington is a town of about 3,700 people near the Kansas border.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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