Who Killed Michael Jordan's Father
James R. Jordan Sr., the father of basketball legend Michael Jordan, was murdered in July 1993 near Lumberton, North Carolina. Two men, Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery, were later convicted for the killing. They robbed and shot James Jordan alongside a highway after his car broke down. The case drew national attention because of Michael Jordan's global fame and the brutality of the crime. Green and Demery were identified through surveillance footage and witness testimony shortly after the murder. The investigation was led by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Green and Demery received multiple life sentences for the murder and related charges. The case remains one of the most high-profile killing cases in North Carolina history. For more details on the case background, see the FBI's case summary FBI Case Files.
Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery
Daniel Andre Green was born in 1970 and was the triggerman in the murder of James Jordan. Larry Martin Demery, born in 1969, was the driver of the getaway car and participated in the robbery. Both men were from Lumberton, North Carolina, and had prior criminal records. Green was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. Demery received multiple consecutive life sentences and testified against Green during the trial. Prosecutors presented evidence including a shotgun, stolen belongings, and surveillance video linking the two to the crime. The trial took place in Robeson County Superior Court in the mid-1990s. Both men have remained in North Carolina state prisons since their convictions. Their case is frequently cited in discussions about violent crime and capital punishment in the state. For more on the sentencing and trial details, visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety NC DPS Offender Search.
Legal Outcome and Current Status
Green and Demery were tried as adults and received life sentences without parole for the murder. Additional charges included armed robbery, theft, and conspiracy, which added consecutive sentences. North Carolina law at the time allowed multiple life terms for separate felony counts in a single case. Green has repeatedly appealed his conviction, but his appeals have been denied by state and federal courts. Demery's cooperation with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence was a key part of the trial strategy. Both men remain incarcerated in North Carolina correctional facilities as of the latest public records. The case file is maintained by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation NCSBI Records. The killing of James Jordan continues to be referenced in true crime and legal analyses of murder trials. For financial and legal data on the case, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts NC Courts provides public access to trial records.