A Memphis man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after police say a woman was found stabbed to death inside a Nutbush apartment this spring. The victim was identified as Teresa “Terri” Diane Long, and officers discovered her body during a welfare check. Investigators say surveillance footage and leasing records led them to a nearby unit and ultimately to a suspect, 48-year-old Collan Lee Carter, who police say remains in custody with no bond set.
According to WREG, officers were called to conduct a welfare check at an apartment complex in the 3800 block of Jackson Avenue on April 6, where they found Long dead in a bedroom. The Memphis Police Department told investigators that the medical examiner determined Long had suffered between seven and ten stab wounds to her neck. Detectives later executed a search warrant at an apartment unit connected to the case.
Long’s obituary lists her full name as Teresa “Terri” Diane Long and gives her date of death as April 6, noting she had lived in Memphis for about 15 years, according to Dignity Memorial. The obituary also details funeral services held in late April and identifies her surviving relatives.
Investigators told WREG that surveillance video from March 29 showed a man wearing a black, red and white hoodie near the lower exit of Long’s apartment building. Leasing paperwork, they said, tied a nearby unit to Carter. Police reported that Carter initially declined to tell officers he had entered Long’s apartment but later admitted he was the man seen in the footage. He was taken in for questioning and subsequently charged with first-degree murder.
What Comes Next
Carter faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held without bond as the case proceeds through the Shelby County court system. An arraignment date has not yet been released, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office will review the investigation and determine whether to file formal charges in court.
The Memphis Police Department says the investigation remains active and is urging anyone with information or relevant footage to contact the department’s homicide unit or Crime Stoppers. Detectives say they plan to release more details as they become available.
