'Dead hog' discovery unravels murder plot: Florida man sentenced to life
Story by Jake Grissom • 20h
A Marion County jury wasted little time Thursday in sealing the fate of Michael Montgomery Jr., convicting the 48-year-old of first-degree murder for the brutal 2023 killing of Wayne Barlow.
Following a brief deliberation on December 11, jurors returned a guilty verdict against Montgomery, who was immediately sentenced to life in prison. The conviction relied heavily on forensic evidence and the testimony of his co-defendant, 39-year-old Jessica Lynn Long, who detailed the violent final moments of the victim’s life.
The case began on June 27, 2023, with a grisly discovery off NW 77th Terrace. A passerby heading home called 911 to report what initially appeared to be a dead hog on the side of the road. When the caller took a closer look, they realized it was a human body.
Detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the Medical Examiner responded to the scene, identifying the victim as 40-year-old Wayne Barlow. Investigators found Barlow had sustained a gunshot wound to the side of the head. The scene suggested a violent struggle had occurred prior to the shooting; Barlow had a black eye, various scrapes, and his clothing was ripped and torn.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/dead-hog-discovery-unravels-murder-plot-florida-man-sentenced-to-life/ar-AA1St6TT?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=5ea619981e7b456deff3223478f9f2d3&ei=70
