State investigators are pushing back on claims that the Maggie Long Task Force has stopped looking into the 2017 Bailey homicide, calling the reports flat-out wrong. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says federal and local partners, including the FBI, ATF and the Park County Sheriff’s Office, are still on the case and that a $75,000 reward is very much alive. Anyone with information is urged to call the task force tip line at (303) 239-4243 or email [email protected], and tips can be submitted anonymously.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, social media posts claiming the task force had stood down are false and the agencies "are actively working this case." The CBI’s message directly corrected the online chatter circulating this week, while repeating the reward details and the official reporting channels. It is the latest in a series of public reminders aimed at turning internet speculation into actual, usable leads for investigators.
Case background
On Dec. 1, 2017, deputies responded to a house fire in Bailey. After firefighters put out the blaze, Maggie Long’s remains were found and her death was later ruled a homicide, according to the FBI. Investigators say evidence shows there was a physical confrontation and that several items, including firearms, a safe and jade figurines, were taken from the home. Authorities have previously released composite sketches and have said multiple suspects are still at large.
Tips and reward
The CBI and its partners are offering a $75,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, per the CBI. That release notes the reward is being offered on behalf of the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Long family, the ATF, the FBI Denver Division and CBI, and again lists the task force tip line and email address. Investigators emphasize that even small or years-old details can matter in a multiagency cold case probe.
Why investigators pushed back
The CBI’s public correction followed social posts that suggested the task force had shut down. Recent local coverage highlights renewed outreach and reminders about official reporting channels as the case remains unsolved, according to Denver7. Officials say that keeping the case in the public eye, along with the standing reward, is meant to encourage people with direct knowledge to contact investigators instead of feeding the rumor mill online.
Legal note
Federal investigators reclassified Long’s killing in 2021 as a possible hate crime matter, which added civil rights resources to the inquiry, according to Colorado Public Radio. No arrests have been announced, and the task force continues to review tips and evidence.
Investigators reiterate that the task force remains active and that rumors about it standing down are incorrect. Anyone with information is urged to use the official tip line or email so detectives can properly vet and pursue potential leads.
