Is the Wrong Man in Jail for Murdering Michael Jordan's Dad?
The murder of James R. Jordan Sr., father of basketball icon Michael Jordan, sent shockwaves across the nation in 1993. Now, more than 30 years later, a startling twist may change everything we thought we knew about the case. Daniel Green, the man serving a life sentence for the murder, could soon walk free — thanks to evidence that might prove he never pulled the trigger. Let's dive into the details.
The Night of the Murder
It was the early hours of July 23, 1993. James Jordan, 56, was on his way home from a friend's funeral. Tired, he pulled over on a dark stretch of highway in Lumberton, North Carolina, and decided to rest. The red Lexus he parked by the road, a gift from his famous son, gleamed in the moonlight.
But as Jordan slept, two 18-year-old men — Daniel Green and Larry Demery — stumbled upon his car. Their plan? A quick robbery. What happened next remains a point of bitter contention.
According to prosecutors, Green shot Jordan in the chest while he slept, killing him instantly. They dumped his body in a swamp across the state line in South Carolina. Eleven days later, a fisherman discovered his badly decomposed remains hanging from a tree, and the body was cremated before it was identified. It took dental records to identify the man as James Jordan, the father of one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
The nation grieved with Michael Jordan, who had just led the Chicago Bulls® to a third consecutive NBA® championship. Months later, Michael stunned the sports world by stepping away from basketball, citing his father's murder as one reason for his decision.
He mourned his father quietly, but new questions soon bubbled to the surface: Was the right man in prison for the murder?
New Evidence
Recently in October 2024, the case took a stunning turn as retired Judge Gregory Weeks called for Green's release, citing evidence that could unravel the prosecution's original narrative. Prosecutors argued that Green shot James Jordan as he slept in his car on the side of a North Carolina highway. Demery claimed he saw Green pull the trigger, then move Jordan's body into the passenger seat. But recent findings raise serious doubts about that story:
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Inconclusive Blood Evidence: During Green's trial, an analyst testified that she believed blood was present in the car's passenger seat, but forensic testing provided no clear confirmation. Strangely, the defense never ordered its own blood analysis to challenge the prosecutor's claim. Without verified blood evidence, the prosecution's theory of an in-car shooting stands on shaky ground.
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Contradictory Bullet Trajectory: Green's new attorney, Christine Mumma, enlisted a bullet trajectory expert to reexamine Demery's testimony. Based on Demery's description of the shooting, the expert concluded that the shot likely couldn't have occurred as described, calling into question the alleged "scene" of the crime inside Jordan's car.
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Mysterious Bullet Hole in the Shirt: Perhaps the most chilling discrepancy lies in James Jordan's shirt. During the autopsy, no bullet hole appeared on his shirt, despite his fatal gunshot wound to the chest. But by the time of Green's trial, the prosecution presented the shirt with a bullet hole, along with gunpowder residue that hadn't been documented initially.
With each new inconsistency, Judge Weeks' concern deepens: Did the original defense miss key opportunities to clear Green's name? And could the overlooked evidence mean a wrongful conviction has kept Green behind bars for more than three decades?
Questions and Controversies
The details of James Jordan's murder never quite added up. The case, even back in the '90s, raised eyebrows. Why did it take Jordan's family three weeks to report him missing, after the car was found, vandalized and stripped? Why did the coroner cremate Jordan's body before it was identified? And how did the evidence against Green seem to pile up so conveniently?
Holes have emerged in Demery's testimony, the linchpin in Green's conviction. Later, during a podcast interview, Demery admitted they had already committed several robberies that night and assumed Jordan must be a drug dealer when they saw his flashy NBA ring and championship watch. Demery's account contains inconsistencies, and Green's legal team believes police coerced Demery into pointing the finger at his friend to close the case quickly.
Green's conviction also relied on physical evidence, such as a gun found in his home and video footage of him wearing Jordan's jewelry. But even this evidence comes with questions. Reports suggest that Jordan's body had no exit wound, which conflicts with claims that he was shot at close range.
And then there's the blood — or rather, the possible lack of it — in Jordan's car. If this new evidence proves reliable, it could break the case wide open.
What Could Happen Next
Daniel Green, now 49, has spent more than three decades behind bars for a murder he insists he didn't commit. His legal team has fought tirelessly to prove his innocence, but until now, their efforts have been stonewalled. With Judge Weeks pushing for Green's release, the North Carolina Parole Commission may finally take a fresh look at the case.
This new development has brought back painful memories for Michael Jordan, who has said he doesn't want to know the reasons behind his father's murder. Michael's grief reached a crescendo in 1996 on Father's Day, when he led the Chicago Bulls to another championship. He collapsed on the court, clutching the ball to his chest. Later in the locker room, he broke down, knowing his dad was watching over him.
Possibly Some Closure on the Horizon
The murder of James Jordan devastated a family, left a legendary athlete haunted and sparked a whirlwind of unanswered questions. Now, with new evidence coming to light, the family may finally find out if the wrong man has been locked away all these years, and understand the actual details of that fateful night.
References: Troubling murder of Michael Jordan's dad's is set to explode again as bombshell new evidence is revealed | N.C. judge argues for release of man convicted in murder of Michael Jordan's father | How Did NBA Legend Michael Jordan's Father James Die? | 22 facts about the murder of Michael Jordan's dad
