Man accused in deadly Lehigh Acres attack remains jailed after first court appearance

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — The man accused of attacking two women inside a Lehigh Acres duplex, killing one of them, faced a judge for the first time Saturday morning as prosecutors moved to keep him behind bars while the case continues.

Whycliff Longin, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, sexual battery and occupied burglary with a battery in connection with the Thursday morning attack along Haviland Avenue South.

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During Longin’s first appearance Saturday, a judge found probable cause for all four charges.

“I do find probable cause for the four charges that you were before the court on today,” the judge said. “The state has filed a motion for pretrial detention.”

Longin will remain in the Lee County Jail while that request is pending.

He appeared on a screen during the hearing, with a Creole interpreter translating the proceedings for him. The court provisionally appointed the public defender to represent Longin, and his attorney waived a formal reading of the charges.

The case began around 2:54 a.m. Thursday when Lee County deputies were called to a duplex on Haviland Avenue South in Lehigh Acres.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one woman told deputies she woke up to Longin on top of her, strangling her.

Sheriff Carmine Marceno said Longin covered the woman’s mouth and continued trying to choke her as she fought to survive.

Investigators say she eventually managed to break free, barricade herself inside a bedroom and call 911.

When deputies arrived, LCSO says Longin tried to get away by running out the back of a neighboring duplex.

Body camera video released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies moving through the area before taking Longin into custody.

Marceno said deputies, detectives and a K-9 team quickly surrounded the area, leaving Longin nowhere to run.

During a safety sweep of the neighboring residence, deputies found a second woman dead inside a bedroom with what LCSO described as obvious signs of blunt-force trauma.

Her family identifies her as Amadette Longin.

The District 21 Medical Examiner later ruled her death a homicide.

The sheriff’s office has described the case as domestic-related, but has not publicly detailed the exact relationship between Whycliff Longin and the women involved.

“There was a relationship there. It was domestic related, and unfortunately, again, it turned fatal,” Marceno said during a news conference Friday.

The surviving woman has been receiving treatment, according to the sheriff’s office.

As the criminal case moves forward, Amadette Longin’s family is also trying to process her death.

Her niece, Lutiana Longin, described her aunt as someone who centered much of her life around family.

“My aunt Amadette Longin, I’d say that she was an amazing woman,” Lutiana said.

“She helped everyone, friends, family, neighbors — you can ask neighbors. They know her as a loving person.”

Lutiana told WINK News her aunt enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews, taking them on walks, out to restaurants, to the pool and thrift shopping.

In the hours after Amadette was found, several relatives gathered outside the home while investigators worked inside.

“Everyone’s crying, everyone’s hurt. It’s only day one,” Lutiana said.

Saturday’s first appearance marked the next step in the criminal case.

The state has filed a motion for pretrial detention, asking the court to keep Longin in custody while the case proceeds. Longin will remain held while that request is pending.

His case is currently scheduled to return to court Monday at 10 a.m.

The judge said that appearance could change if prosecutors are able to coordinate a pretrial detention hearing with the assigned felony judge before then. If that happens, the Monday first-appearance proceeding would be canceled.

Longin’s immigration status was also addressed during the hearing.

LCSO says Longin came to the United States from Haiti in 2024 and was seeking asylum. Following his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on him.

The judge noted Saturday that Longin has an immigration hold, but said it is a separate matter from the criminal case.

Marceno previously said Longin’s criminal case will proceed through the state justice system while his immigration status is handled separately by federal authorities.

Although Longin has now been arrested and charged, the sheriff’s office says the investigation is continuing.

“Our detectives will continue to conduct interviews, review forensic evidence, and build a case that will win in court,” Marceno said.

LCSO has also said additional charges could follow as forensic testing is completed.

Longin remains in the Lee County Jail as the case moves forward.