Authorities in Ohio have charged Kyle Long with murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife Rachel Long 17 times and attempted to stage the incident as a suicide. The attack occurred in October 2025 in London, Ohio, amid reports that Rachel sought a separation. Long claimed she harmed herself, but evidence including defensive wounds and inconsistencies in his account led to his arrest.
On October 23, 2025, deputies responded to a 911 call at a home on State Route 187 in London, Ohio, a town about 25 miles southwest of Columbus. Kyle Long, 35, reported that his 32-year-old wife, Rachel Long, had stabbed herself multiple times in their bedroom, leaving blood everywhere and no pulse. He told dispatchers and investigators that he had been watching television in another room when he heard laughter followed by screams. Upon checking, he said he found her stabbing herself in the face and neck with a knife in her right hand.
Long also mentioned to officers at the scene that Rachel wanted a separation from their marriage. However, his later interview statements conflicted with initial reports, such as the sequence of his 911 calls—he had dialed once, hung up, and called again four minutes later.
An autopsy revealed 17 sharp-force injuries on Rachel, including defensive wounds on both hands, contradicting Long's description of the knife's position. Madison County Sheriff John Swaney noted that the case was treated as suspicious from the start, with Long as the only person present. "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 local media.
Prior to the incident, Rachel had been texting a friend about outfits for an upcoming concert, showing no signs of distress or suicidal intent. The friend confirmed Rachel's excitement about leaving the marriage and starting anew as a single mother to their two children. "We knew that she was excited to leave," the friend said. "She was making new relationships and friendships and looking forward to a new adventure as a solo single mom."
Rachel, a beloved community member, owned Pawfect Pups Grooming in downtown London. Her friend added, "killing herself was not Rachel, this is not the way she would have handled a situation in her life."
Long was arrested during a traffic stop on a Wednesday after the coroner ruled the death a homicide. At his Friday arraignment, he received a $1.5 million bond and is held at Tri-County Regional Jail. His attorney, Sam Shamansky, stated, "It is a horribly tragic event in which he bears no responsibility, only sorrow." Long maintains his innocence.
