Salem, Alabama was rocked on the evening of September 4, 2025, when 69-year-old James Barnett was found dead seated in a chair in the front yard of his home on Lee County Road 126. Deputies arrived about 7:15 p.m. to discover Barnett with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the forehead; he was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for postmortem examination.

Lee County detectives quickly developed a suspect within the family. The investigation led to the arrest on September 5, 2025, of 51-year-old Richard Lee Huguley, Barnett’s stepson from Opelika. Huguley was charged with murder and held without bail at the Lee County Detention Center pending an Aniah’s Law hearing. Authorities have not released a motive and the homicide investigation remains active.

If anyone knew James Barnett or has information about the events that night, please share what can help investigators.