A Tennessee man has been charged with first-degree murder after investigators alleged he fatally stabbed his neighbor, then continued living just one building away while her body remained undiscovered inside her apartment for more than a week.
Collan Lee Carter, 48, was arrested in connection with the death of Tresa Long, according to court records and an affidavit filed by the Memphis Police Department.
Welfare Check Leads to Grim Discovery
The investigation began shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 6, when Memphis police responded to a welfare check at The Villages Apartments on Jackson Avenue after concerns were raised about Long’s well-being.
When officers arrived, they immediately noticed a strong foul odor coming from Long’s locked apartment. Members of the Memphis Fire Department forced their way inside, where officers discovered Long’s badly decomposed body in a bedroom.
Investigators reported that there were no signs of forced entry into the apartment, suggesting the victim may have known the person responsible for her death.
Autopsy Rules Death a Homicide
The West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center later conducted an autopsy and determined that Long had been stabbed between seven and 10 times in the neck.
Medical examiners ruled her death a homicide, prompting detectives to launch an extensive investigation into her final days.
Surveillance Cameras Become Key Evidence
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage covering the entrance to Long’s apartment to determine who had visited before her death.
According to the probable cause affidavit, security cameras captured a man wearing a distinctive black, red, and white hooded sweatshirt with the number “23” on the front leaving Long’s apartment at approximately 3:02 a.m. on March 29.
The footage showed the man walking directly to another apartment within the same complex.
Using apartment leasing records and police databases, detectives identified that apartment as belonging to Collan Lee Carter and matched him to the individual seen on the surveillance video.
Detectives Trace Timeline After Victim’s Death
Police continued examining surveillance footage covering the days following March 29.
Investigators observed numerous people stopping by Long’s apartment and knocking on the door, but no one ever answered. Packages left outside the apartment remained untouched, and detectives found no indication that anyone entered or exited the residence after the individual they identified as Carter was seen leaving.
Authorities believe these observations helped establish the timeline surrounding Long’s death.
Search Warrant Leads to Arrest
After gathering evidence, investigators obtained a search warrant for Carter’s apartment and brought him in for questioning.
During the interview, Carter reportedly admitted that he was the man seen wearing the distinctive hoodie captured on surveillance cameras. However, according to police, he denied ever entering Long’s apartment despite investigators confronting him with the video evidence.
Statement Raises Investigators’ Suspicion
Detectives said Carter made a statement during questioning that immediately caught their attention.
According to the affidavit, Carter told investigators that he had “heard that Tresa Long was stabbed multiple times.”
Police noted that this specific information had never been publicly released before the interview, making the statement significant to the investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed how Carter claimed to have learned that detail.
Neighbors Shocked by Arrest
Residents of the apartment complex later told local media they had no idea a homicide had taken place until Carter was arrested months later.
One resident recalled seeing officers investigating after Long’s body was discovered but said they did not realize another tenant had become the primary suspect.
Another neighbor said the case demonstrated the importance of surveillance cameras in helping police solve violent crimes. Others expressed disbelief that a suspect accused of such a serious crime allegedly continued living nearby while the investigation unfolded.
Motive Still Unknown
Investigators have not announced a motive for the killing, nor have they explained why several months passed between the discovery of Long’s body and Carter’s arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Defendant Remains in Jail
Collan Lee Carter is being held in the Shelby County Jail without bond on a charge of first-degree murder.
Court records show he was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday, with another hearing set for July 29 as the criminal case moves forward.
