Longo mother, children were regulars at library
By Leslie O'Donnell
Of the News-Times
During their stay in Lincoln County, Mary Jane Longo, 35, and her three children, Zachary, 5; Sadie, 3; and Madison, 2, were almost daily visitors to the Newport Public Library.
Children's librarian Rebecca Cohen said the family visited the library often, and on occasion, Christian Michael Longo, 27, now wanted on seven counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of his wife and three children, would come to the library to pick them up.
Cohen said she did not have personal interaction with the Longos, but observed that Mary Jane appeared to be a loving parent who paid careful attention to her children. If the children were present during story times, they would attend the sessions as well.
She said the Newport Library is a comfortable, safe place for transient families, and noted that the Longo family appeared to be
transients.
"The children would play with the puzzles and the computers, and she would read to them," Cohen said.
"The baby would fall asleep."
She said Mary Jane Longo spent a lot of time visiting with and teaching the children as they played. She added that Mary Jane looked tired and and was quite shy and withdrawn, but was gradually becoming more outgoing.
"I would smile at them, and I learned the children's names," Cohen said. The family visited the library for about six weeks, and did not apply for library cards.
"(The mother) was so interactive with her babies," Cohen said. "This is almost too sad to bear."
Mary Jane Longo and her children also were occasional visitors to Contact Information and Referral Service in Newport.
Linda Cracknell, executive director of Contact, said Monday that the family stopped in to obtain clothes and to take showers.
"I found her really delightful," Cracknell said of Mary Jane. "The kids were delightful, and she really doted on them."
Cracknell said that Mary Jane and the children would come into the Contact warehouse, but Christian would usually remain in the car.
She said she would joke with Mary Jane, as she does with many women whose male partners remain outside while business is conducted, and suggest that he should come inside, also.
"She would tell me, `he´s my dreamer,´" Cracknell recalled.
A spokesperson for My Sisters' Place, formerly the Women's Violence Intervention Program, said she was not aware of any contacts the agency had with Mary Jane Longo.
. http://www.newportnewstimes.com/nt_news/general/nt_news-07.html