In the quiet community of Salem, Alabama, the evening of September 4, 2025, was shattered by a grim discovery that would soon unravel a story of familial violence. James Barnett, a 69-year-old Black male, was found lifeless, seated in a chair in the front yard of his residence on Lee County Road 126. The tranquility of the neighborhood was broken when Lee County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call around 7:15 p.m. reporting a deceased person.
Upon their arrival, they were met with a scene that suggested a violent and sudden end to Mr. Barnett's life. He had sustained what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to his forehead and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial shock of the discovery quickly transitioned into an intensive homicide investigation. As detectives began to process the scene, collecting evidence and speaking with potential witnesses, a suspect emerged from within the victim's own family. The investigation swiftly pointed towards Richard Lee Huguley, the 51-year-old stepson of James Barnett. Evidence gathered by the Lee County investigators led to Huguley's arrest the very next day.
Following his apprehension, Richard Lee Huguley of Opelika was charged with the murder of his stepfather. He was taken into custody and held without bail at the Lee County Detention Center, awaiting an Aniah's Law hearing, which allows judges to deny bail to individuals accused of violent crimes. While an arrest was made promptly, authorities did not immediately release a motive for the killing. The case remains an active investigation as law enforcement continues to gather all the facts surrounding the tragic death of James Barnett. His body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a postmortem examination to officially determine the cause of death.
