Indiana man sentenced for raping 86-year-old woman over 10 years ago

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ind. (TCN) -- A 37-year-old man will spend four decades behind bars for sexually assaulting an elderly woman nearly 14 years ago.

According to the Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office, on Feb. 19, a judge sentenced Craig Long to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after he was convicted of rape.

On July 2, 2011, Long reportedly went into an 86-year-old woman's home in the early morning hours and battered and raped the victim before fleeing. Prosecutors said he "had cut open a screen door and attacked the woman in her hallway." The defendant then reportedly knocked down the victim and continued to physically assault and rape her.

According to the district attorney's office, the elderly woman said she "prayed for the suspect out loud during the attack and ultimately, he stopped." However, she wasn't able to clearly see him because he was wearing a ski mask.

Investigators recovered a partial DNA profile from inside the woman's nightgown. Despite authorities' efforts, they were unable to name a suspect until late 2024, when advancements in DNA testing helped investigators identify Long. Officials executed a search warrant and learned Long's DNA matched evidence collected from the scene. He was arrested on Jan. 15 and held on $500,000 bond.

According to the prosecutor's office, the victim, who is now 100 years old, "was spared the trauma of reliving the horrific events at a trial." The statement continued, "Her resilience, strength, and determination for justice serve as a reminder of the lasting impact of violent crimes and the importance of holding offenders accountable."

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