On July 23, 1993, James Jordan, a 56-year-old African American male and father of NBA star Michael Jordan, was tragically killed near Lumberton, North Carolina. After attending a friend's funeral in Wilmington, Jordan was en route to his home in Charlotte when he decided to pull over on U.S. Route 74 to rest. As he slept in his red Lexus SC400, two 18-year-old men, Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery, approached the vehicle.
According to court records, Green shot Jordan, and the pair then stole the car along with other personal belongings. They subsequently disposed of Jordan's body in a swamp near McColl, South Carolina, where it was discovered 11 days later in a state of decomposition.
The investigation quickly focused on Green and Demery after authorities traced calls made from Jordan's car phone to associates of the two men. Both were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. In 1996, Demery accepted a plea deal, agreeing to testify against Green in exchange for a life sentence with the possibility of parole. He testified that Green was the shooter, leading to Green's conviction and a life sentence without parole.
Over the years, questions have arisen regarding the integrity of the investigation and the validity of the convictions. In 2010, it was revealed that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation had mishandled evidence in numerous cases, including this one. However, the Jordan case was later removed from the list of those affected. In 2018, Green's legal team filed motions citing new evidence and potential misconduct, seeking a new trial. Despite these efforts, courts have thus far denied Green's appeals.
In a notable development, retired Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks, who presided over Green's original trial, has expressed doubts about the conviction. In 2024, Judge Weeks petitioned the North Carolina parole commission, advocating for Green's release and citing concerns about omitted evidence during the trial. This move has added momentum to ongoing discussions about potential wrongful convictions and the need for judicial review in this case.
As of now, both Green and Demery remain incarcerated. Demery was initially approved for parole in 2020, with a scheduled release in 2023. However, due to subsequent infractions and reviews, his parole has been postponed multiple times, with the latest reports indicating a potential release in 2024. Green continues to serve his life sentence, maintaining his innocence and seeking avenues for exoneration.
The murder of James Jordan not only brought immense personal tragedy to the Jordan family but also cast a spotlight on the criminal justice system in Robeson County, North Carolina. Decades later, the case remains a subject of legal scrutiny and public interest, reflecting broader concerns about justice, accountability, and the potential for wrongful convictions.
