In the summer, a family's life was forever altered when 25-year-old Lazarus Howard III of Madison, Alabama, vanished. The last time his mother heard his voice was during a brief conversation on July 10. As days turned into more than a week with no word, a growing sense of dread prompted his family to officially report him missing on July 19. Investigators learned that there had been no confirmed sightings of him or any form of contact since that last call with his mother.
The investigation into his disappearance began, with the Huntsville Police Department finding no evidence that he had come back to his residence on Lawsons Ridge Drive. Adding to the difficulty, Howard did not own a registered vehicle, making his potential movements harder to trace.
As the search continued, details about Lazarus were shared in the hope that someone might come forward with information. He was described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 140 pounds, with brown eyes. His appearance was distinct due to several tattoos, including a red tattoo on his neck, full tattoo sleeves on both of his arms, and a tattoo of a bible across his abdomen with the words 'Only the Strong Survive'. Despite these details and the active efforts of law enforcement, which included multiple searches of his apartment and the execution of warrants and subpoenas to gather information, there were no clear leads on his whereabouts for months. Investigators believed he might have connections to Central Alabama, particularly the Selma area, but this did not immediately lead to a breakthrough in the case. His phone was powered off, and he left personal belongings behind, including his cat.
The case took a tragic turn in early November. An anonymous tip provided investigators with a crucial lead, pointing them toward a person of interest identified as 19-year-old Kylan James Haley of Montgomery. Huntsville Police investigators traveled to Montgomery to interview Haley. This interview led to a coordinated search in an area near the 29000 block of Highway 20. It was there, on November 5, that the search for Lazarus Howard III came to a heartbreaking end when his body was discovered in a wooded area. The initial evidence found at the scene strongly indicated that he had been the victim of a homicide. Following the devastating discovery, a murder warrant was issued for Kylan James Haley, who was to be extradited to Madison County to face charges. The case of the missing young man from Madison thus concluded in the most painful way possible, leaving his family and community to mourn their profound loss.Last Seen: Jul 10, 2025
