Leroy Langlais, 41, traveled to Birmingham from Texas on what appears to have been a business trip, flying in and renting a car. His wife reported him missing after he failed to make expected contact. The rental car tied to him was found in east Birmingham and taken to an impound lot; on December 30 his body was discovered inside that charred vehicle at Birmingham Towing.

Authorities said he had been shot. Later accounts indicate he was placed in the trunk, moved into the back seat, and the car was then set on fire. The killing was treated as a homicide and was listed among Birmingham’s homicides from that period, though some references date into early 2009 because of the timing of the discovery and the coroner’s ruling.

If anyone knew Leroy, saw his rental car in Birmingham in late December 2008, or has information about his movements there, please share what is known.