A Holt, Fla., man currently being held in Alabama on Covington County charges has been indicted by an Okaloosa County Grand Jury on a charge of first degree felony murder in connection with the death of an Okaloosa County business owner in October 1981.

Jackie Long, 55, is currently in custody in Alabama.

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the murder of 59-year old Leonard “Buddy” Phelps at his Niceville-based boat business took on renewed emphasis in the 2008/2009 time frame and valuable new leads were able to be developed.

While working the Phelps case, investigators also learned of evidence connected to two other cold case murders in Alabama. That evidence helped lead to the indictment last year of Jackie Long, as well as his son Shane Darrel Long, for the December 2005 attempted murder, robbery, and beating of Henry Maxie Jordan in Wing, Ala. Jordan later died and injuries sustained in that beating were believed to be a contributing factor.

In addition, information gleaned from the Phelps investigation also aided law enforcement in the indictment of Garry Ray Lindsey for the 2006 murder of Roy Dale Oliver in Lawrence County, Ala.

The Buddy Phelps murder investigation remains active and additional information will be released at the appropriate time.

See related story.