Search warrants reveal new info about Sarah Long's death

DAVIDSON, NC (WBTV) - New search warrants are revealing more details about the days leading up to the mysterious death of Sarah Catherine Long. Long was found with a single gunshot wound to the left side of her head at her Davidson home in July.

At first, her death was considered a suicide, but several factors led police to reclassify the case as a homicide.

According to search warrants, a neighbor told police the last time she saw Long was on Friday, July 18. She said Long was walking with a man, later identified as William Drew Becker.

The warrants say Becker showed police documents that the 41-year-old victim left him everything in her will. It totaled about $1.5 million dollars. Becker claimed they were lovers and she was sick with cervical cancer.

Another neighbor told officers that she saw Long on July 19 wearing a long dress and standing outside her home with a man.

That same day, another neighbor who lives next door, told police she heard a heavy slam coming from Long's bedroom. That's the day police believe Long died.

Her body was found four days later after police received a call from a concerned citizen, later identified as Becker.

A week after Long's death, on Tuesday, July 29, the Mecklenburg County medical examiner told police he could not detect any blood on Long's left hand, the hand she was suspected of using to take her own life.

In the warrants, both police and the examiner agreed that the gun was found in an odd position. After talking with family, police also learned Sarah Long was right-handed.

On August 6, Long's OBGYN told detectives that Long did not have cervical cancer.

Davidson Police say they are examining electronic evidence collected at Long's home, as well as reviewing Long's financial information.

The search warrant states that investigators believe Long's financial records could determine who long was with the evening she died. At this time no arrests have been made in this case.

A spokesperson for Davidson Police says they are looking into a person of interest, but are not releasing their name.

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