In an Atlanta courtroom, a judge dismissed a motion on Monday aimed at preventing statements made by Robert Aaron Long after his arrest from being presented to a jury. Long, accused of murdering four women at massage parlors in Atlanta, is facing the death penalty for the March 2021 shootings. These occurred after he had already killed four individuals at a massage parlor in Cherokee County, where he is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Attorneys for Long attempted to block statements he made to police from being used in his upcoming trial. However, the presiding judge ruled that Long’s statements, including those made during his guilty plea in Cherokee County, are admissible, although specific objections from the defense could be considered later.
The tragic events of March 16, 2021, saw Long take the lives of four people at Youngs Asian Massage in Cherokee County, namely Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Yaun, and Paul Michels. He subsequently traveled roughly 30 miles south to Atlanta, where he killed Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Yong Ae Yue at two different spa locations. Most of the victims in both counties were women of Asian descent.
While the death penalty is being pursued by prosecutors in Fulton County, who are also seeking a hate crimes enhancement, Cherokee County authorities opted not for the death penalty, with Long entering a guilty plea there only a few months after the incidents.
During the hearing, Daran Burns, a defense attorney from Cherokee County, testified regarding his initial appointment to represent Long shortly after the arrest. Burns recalled informing the Cherokee County sheriff of his appointment, expressing his intent to be present during any police interviews with Long. However, he noted some skepticism from then-District Attorney Shannon Wallace regarding the legitimacy of his appointment.
Burns expressed concern that proceedings were beginning without Long’s legal representation. According to his testimony, law enforcement from both Cherokee and Atlanta counties questioned Long hours following his apprehension.
According to Jerilyn Bell, one of Long’s attorneys in Fulton County, there was ample time for Burns to meet Long in Crisp County for questioning, yet he didn’t attempt this as Wallace suggested that the interrogation was already proceeding. Bell contended this breached Long’s Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel.
Prosecutor Kevin Armstrong countered, explaining that the district attorney had doubts about the authenticity of Burns’ appointment and highlighted that Long hadn’t requested counsel nor demonstrated a need for it. Armstrong argued that Long voluntarily and knowingly engaged in the conversations.
Across the nation, the murders ignited outrage and fear within the Asian American communities, already experiencing increased hostility tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. The assertion by authorities that Long’s actions may not have been racially motivated, suggesting instead a struggle with sex addiction, drew significant backlash.
Robert Aaron Long confessed to difficulties with pornography and sexual activities, stating he believed himself to be an addict. His profound feelings of guilt following consumption of pornography or sexual encounters at massage parlors were highlighted during his sentencing in Cherokee County.
Long’s Fulton County charges include murder, aggravated assault, and domestic terrorism. Although a trial date remains unconfirmed, Chief Judge Ural Glanville has arranged for the next series of hearings to take place at the end of April.
