LISBON — The ex-husband of a Leetonia teacher shot to death Nov. 29, 2023, outside her home has been charged with murder.

William P. Long Jr., 50, North Market Street, Lisbon, was indicted Wednesday by a special Columbiana County grand jury and taken into custody at his job at, Vallourec Star in Youngstown. He was being held in the Columbiana County jail.

According to the indictment, Long faces charges of aggravated murder, murder and discharging a firearm upon a roadway, all with gun specifications, in connection to the death of Michelle Long, 50.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino and Sheriff Brian McLaughlin announced the indictment and arrest in a press release. Abruzzino said he’s asking for a bond of $1.5 million cash or surety. If convicted, Long faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Michelle Long was found dead in her vehicle outside of her home on Carey Road in Salem. Abruzzino said her vehicle was on the road near her mailbox.

Neither Abruzzino nor McLaughlin would go into detail about the evidence, the weapon or what they believe happened.

Both men said it took a long time to get an indictment because of the large amount of evidence that needed to be processed in the case.

Long is scheduled to be arraigned June 27 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, according to court records.

Michelle Long was a teacher at Leetonia High School as the math / STEM / industry teacher, junior high robotics coach and junior high track coach. She had been with the district for eight years and her death left staff and students in shock.

“This case was very important to my office, and our detectives did an outstanding job getting it prepared to be successfully indicted by the grand jury,” McLaughlin said in the press release.

Abruzzino added, “Michelle, her family, and the community all deserve accountability for this terrible crime, and I am confident this step will lead toward that end.”