Friday was a day to remember for not only one local family, but also for the county’s cold case task force when it was announced two men were indicted and arrested for the 2005 attempted murder of a Wing man.

District Attorney Walt Merrell said the father and son duo of Jackie Darrell Long, 54, and Shane Darrell Long, 27, were indicted by the grand jury on charges of attempted murder, robbery I and burglary I for the home invasion of Henry Jordan and his family on Dec. 31, 2005.

The path to the arrests was a long and complicated one, Merrell explained.

That New Year’s Eve in 2005 ended with Jordan being brutally assaulted inside his Ala. Hwy. 137 home. Jordan’s wife, children and grandchildren were also inside the home at the time, Merrell said.

“The Longs knocked on Mr. Jordan’s door and made entry in the predawn hours,” Merrell said. “They attempted to rob Mr. Jordan and commit a theft, but it went bad. Mr. Jordan suffered massive blunt force trauma to the left orbital socket and temple region and forehead. He also suffered a significant skull fracture and had permanent loss of sight in his left eye.”

Nothing was taken from the home, and Merrell said law enforcement was unable to develop leads following the attack. Jordan ultimately died in 2007 from the injuries, Merrell said. He was 62.

“There is some medical evidence to support Mr. Jordan’s death was a result of the home invasion,” he said.

Merrell said information yet to be obtained from two of Jordan’s previous doctors who are now practicing out of state could should shed more light on the case.

“If both agree that with no doubt, Mr. Jordan’s death was a result of the home invasion, you may see an additional indictment for murder or even capital murder,” he said.

Long and his son were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force at their respective homes in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa, Fla., counties. Police reported that the younger Long resisted arrest and is facing charges from that incident in Santa Rosa County, Fla.

The two will be extradited to Covington County in the coming days.

At the end of the day’s press conference, Merrell revealed that this arrest is unrelated to the recent exhumation of a Gantt man.

The arrests were the first for the CCTF.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said, “Today goes to show what can be done when multiple agencies work together as one, as a team.”