Kim Long, the Corona, California, woman who some say was wrongfully accused of the murder of her boyfriend, Ozzy Conde, 13 years ago, is the latest story to air on Oxygen Network’s Snapped . The hit crime television show tells the stories of females who kill after certain circumstances make them snap.
The case of Kim Long is a bit different from the other stories featured on Snapped since she was recently released from prison. Right now, no one is sure how long her freedom will last if the prosecution takes the case back to trial for the third time. In tonight’s Snapped , detectives who worked the case will give their insight on what happened.
@JerryBrownGov Look at the evidence. You will discover Kim Long is innocent. #XONR8 #FreeTheCA12 @BrianBanksFREE pic.twitter.com/J4JURMZoNq
— Justin Brooks (@JustinoBrooks) February 7, 2016
Case Facts
Police were called to a home in Corona, California, in October of 2003, where they found a man dead on the sofa. The man, who was dressed in all black, had been severely beaten about the head. The victim was identified as Oswaldo “Ozzy” Conde. His girlfriend, Kim Long, had called 911 after 2 a.m. to report finding the body.
During the frantic 911 call, Kim Long stated that she returned home and found her boyfriend on the couch. She also told operators that she believed that he was still alive since she was a nurse. But when detectives arrived on the scene, they noted that the victim was already deceased, and it didn’t appear as if he had expired recently.
During the investigation, police detectives learned that Kim Long had argued with Ozzy Conde after a night of drinking at the bars. Ozzy was upset that Kim Long was being flirtatious during their night out. The couple argued at their home, and according to court records, Kim Long left with her friend, Jeff Dills, and they headed back to his place, where they engaged in a sexual encounter, according to U.S. Courts .
However, there was a discrepancy in the times. Jeff Dills told police that he dropped Kimberly Long off at her house at around 1:30 a.m., but Kim Long said that it was around 2 a.m. The police believed Jeff Dills, and Kim Long was arrested for the murder even after she passed the polygraph test.
She was eventually convicted and sent to prison. But for years, Kim Long told anyone who would listen that she was innocent of the crime. She had many supporters, and her case was featured on the California Innocence Project’s website.
https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaInnocenceProject/posts/1022978271116804
Key Details That Point To Kim Long’s Innocence are as follows, according to the California Innocence Project .
- She passed the polygraph test with high scores.
- It is believed that Jeff Dills, who later died in a motorcycle accident, changed the times to make sure he was not looked at as a suspect.
- A cigarette butt found at the death scene belonged to an unknown person.
- Ozzy Conde’s body was already cold to the touch by the time police arrived.
- Detectives in the case overlooked other possible suspects.
Exonerees Bill Richards and Kim Long just met – the first California 12 meetup on the outside! #INNOCENT #XONR8 pic.twitter.com/fQPuOWmHGU
— CA Innocence Project (@CA_Innocence) June 22, 2016
Kim Long’s cries of innocence were finally heard, and her conviction was overturned. Though she is now enjoying a measure of freedom, it still may not be over. The prosecution could decide to move forward with yet another trial, which could end in a guilty verdict. For now, she is trying to build a new life, according to the Press Enterprise .
“I’m trying to get my life back together. I have a thousand things to go and do. It’s very overwhelming, wanting to feel normal like everyone else. I don’t believe anything negative is going to come out of any court hearing anymore in my life.”
Be sure to make time for Snapped tonight at 9/8 p.m. Central on Oxygen. Then, weigh in on the case. Do you think Kim Long is guilty and should be back in prison? In a previous episode of Snapped , the lesbian teen murder case was discussed.
[Image via Perfect Lazybones/Shutterstock]