Johnson Britt, the prosecutor responsible for bringing the killers of Michael Jordan's father, James Jordan, to justice, recently shared his experience with News13’s Annette Peagler . As the district attorney of Robeson County, North Carolina, Britt's role in this high-profile case was a defining moment in his career.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime case. For me, it’s the biggest case I’ve ever tried. It’s the longest case I ever tried."
"The State Bureau of Investigation had contacted me. They were going to have some hearings in the case, and actually came in and sat on those as a spectator. I knew that, from I’ve heard, it wasn’t going to be tried before my predecessor left office."
"The car was found in Cumberland County outside of Fayetteville. The body was found in South Carolina near Bennettsville. And the phone records really ended up pinpointing where they were."
"After they dumped the body, they went on a joyride, for days. Then, when the information from the phone started coming in, that’s how they investigated Daniel Green and Larry Demery, their whereabouts."
"Mr. Jordan might be calling Los Angeles. He might be calling Cleveland, Chicago, Charlotte — and all of a sudden it became Pembroke, Lumberton, Rowland, Laurinburg."
Britt was in his 30s when he was assigned the case in the summer of 1993. He recounted how the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation contacted him, indicating that they were preparing for hearings in the case. Britt attended these hearings as a spectator, understanding that the trial would not commence before his predecessor left office.
The evidence against the accused, Daniel Green and Larry Demery, was straightforward and damning. Britt detailed how Jordan’s car was found in Cumberland County, while his body was discovered in a swamp near Bennettsville, South Carolina. Crucial to the investigation were the phone records that tracked the movements of Green and Demery after the murder.
"You got to look at who got the spoils from the robbery, and that was Daniel Green. He got Mr. Jordan’s championship ring. He got Mr. Jordan’s NBA All-Star ring. He got the watch that Michael had commissioned to be made. On top of that, he’s wearing a Chicago White Sox hat, and that’s who Michael ended up playing baseball for."
“I think what weighed on some of the jurors’ minds was which one was actually a shooter. They didn’t want to send someone to death for a crime they weren’t certain that he was a shooter. He’s clearly a participant however you look at it."
One of the most incriminating pieces of evidence was a rap video in which Green was seen wearing James Jordan’s belongings. Green was in possession of Jordan’s championship ring, NBA All-Star ring, and a custom-made watch, all of which were identifiable.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, only Green went to trial, as Demery took a plea deal and testified that Green was the shooter. Britt sought the death penalty for Green but faced challenges in proving beyond doubt who had fired the fatal shot.
James Jordan was murdered 31 years ago, on July 23, 1993. He was shot and killed while sleeping in his car off Interstate 95 in Lumberton, North Carolina. Jordan’s body was found nearly two weeks later, and it took another ten days to identify him through dental records. Daniel Green has maintained his innocence, with his attorney, Lauren Miller, stating that he was not the shooter and expressing the intention to seek a new trial.
Britt’s dedication and meticulous work in this case highlight the complexities and challenges faced by prosecutors in high-profile cases. His recounting of the events provides insight into the legal process and the pursuit of justice in the face of tragedy.
Related: Stephen A. Smith Says Michael Jordan Feels “Betrayed” by Scottie Pippen For Not Offering Condolences After His Father’s Murder
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