The convicted murderer of Michael Jordan’s father will be released from jail after spending 30 years behind bars for shooting him and ditching his body in a swamp in South Carolina, stealing his vehicle.
James Jordan had been driving home from playing golf when he fell asleep at the side of the road around an hour into the drive and fell asleep in the parking lot of a Quality Inn, where Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery identified him as the father of the Chicago Bulls’ ace.
The pair then conspired to steal his Lexus SC400, with Green shooting him dead as he slept on July 23 before the pair stole the car and abandoned his body in the swamps of South Carolina, causing decomposition so severe he wasn’t identified until August 13 via dental records.
Demery and Green also stole two NBA Finals rings, gifts from Jordan to his father, but foolishly made calls from his cell phone, which allowed law enforcement to capture the criminals, who were both convicted and sentenced to life in jail, with Green refusing to testify to events.
However the story has now taken a twist as a North Carolina judge requested the parole board overturns his ruling, believing crucial details were omitted whilst the case was active and in legal proceedings.
Judge Gregory Weeks calls for Green to be released, believing forensic tests results within the car were not disclosed whilst a “blood like” substance may not have belonged to the now 49-year-old, who has been incarcerated for 30 years.
Additionally, whilst Green has said he helped Demery commit the grand theft auto, he denies being the murderer and insists he never pulled the trigger of the gun nor killed James Jordan, something Demery claims Green did.
When could Green be released?
It’s unclear when Green could actually be released from prison but it will take at least a month for the parole board and judicial officials to make a decision based on Judge Weeks’ recommendations.
Meanwhile Demery had received parole in August 2023 as part of an agreement with the Division of Prisons until it was dramatically cancelled with no reason specified by the board. It means he is currently behind bars in Lincoln County after being convicted of robbery and first-degree murder.