Man Gives His Version of Death of Wife, Kids

NEWPORT, Ore. —  A man accused of murdering his family testified Tuesday that his wife killed two children and injured a third, and that he then attacked her in rage over her actions.

Christian Longo, an admitted con artist, already has pleaded guilty to killing MaryJane and 2-year-old Madison. On Tuesday, Longo said he strangled MaryJane in anger after learning of his children’s deaths. He said he then found Madison still breathing and decided to kill her too.

Prosecutors accuse Longo of murdering his wife and children, stuffing their bodies in suitcases and comforters and throwing them in shallow coastal inlets.

Longo testified that a morose MaryJane picked him up from work on Dec. 17, 2001. Longo had earlier testified that the couple had had a serious argument the previous evening, after he came clean to her about past lies and criminal acts. She began to cry as the couple walked toward their condo, Longo said.

“At that point, I became alarmed,” Longo said. He rushed into the apartment and found Madison lying unconscious. His older two children -- 4-year-old Zachery and 3-year-old Sadie -- were missing, Longo said.

Longo said he yelled at MaryJane, who Longo contended was crumpled and crying on the floor, asking for an explanation.

Longo said MaryJane “ended up looking at me and saying, ‘You did this, it’s your fault....’ She used the word ‘kill,’ and that was the first time I suspected” that the children were dead.

“She said something, ‘They’re in the water, they’re by the house.’ That’s when I lost it,” Longo said.

Longo said he strangled MaryJane and decided to dispose of the bodies. Longo testified he put MaryJane in one suitcase and was preparing to put Madison in the other when he noticed her small chest was still moving up and down.

“Even though she was breathing, I thought of her as dead,” Longo said. “I couldn’t put her in the suitcase like that.” Longo said he strangled Madison.