Shotgun-Packing Elderly Couple Ruins Dangerous Fugitive's Escape Plans with Deadly Shot

An escaped inmate was shot and killed Monday by an elderly couple he had been holding at gunpoint for around four hours.

Rodney Eugene Long, a dangerous prison escapee suspected of shooting and injuring a Taylor County deputy, broke into a couple's home in Bedford, Iowa, at around 10:15 p.m. Monday night and held them for four hours, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Mitch Mortvedt said during a news conference.

(WCCI-TV)

Jerome and Carolyn Mauderly said Long was armed with a semi-automatic handgun. Long, 38, also disabled the phones in the Maulderlys' home as he apparently gathered supplies to aid his escape.

At around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, Jerome, 71, was somehow able to retrieve his shotgun and shoot the fugitive dead. The couple immediately called 911 and police responded to their home.

“As the situation wore on, a decision was made by the Mauderlys that they were going to defend themselves," Mortvedt said.

More from KCCI-TV:

The trooper found Long dead face down on the kitchen floor of the couple's home.

"As the trooper made entry into the residence they found Rodney Long lying face down on the kitchen floor. He secured the situation and obviously checked on the wellbeing of Mr. and Mrs. Mauderly," said Mortvedt.

Authorities said they searched 16 square miles of the surrounding area in the past several days, including conducting three searches of the couple's property.

"From the appearance of the scene, it appeared that maybe Mr. Long was gathering supplies to further enhance his escape," said Mortvedt.

The couple will not face charges in the shooting. Further, the deputy that Long shot during his escape was listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries on Tuesday.

Residents were thankful that the manhunt for Long was over:

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