Body of Missing Huntsville Man, Lazarus Howard III, Found After Four Months
HUNTSVILLE, AL — The city of Huntsville is heartbroken as the long and painful search for 25-year-old Lazarus Howard III has come to a tragic end. For nearly four months, his family and friends clung to hope that he would return home. That hope turned into heartbreak when police located his body on Tuesday, November 5, 2025, in Montgomery County, following a vital anonymous tip that broke the case open.
Lazarus’s disappearance began on July 10, 2025, when he last spoke with his mother. That conversation, warm and routine at the time, would be the last anyone heard from him. When days passed without word, concern grew rapidly. By July 19, his family reported him missing, launching an extensive investigation by the Huntsville Police Department.
Detectives searched Lazarus’s apartment in Huntsville, hoping to uncover clues about his whereabouts. They executed search warrants, issued subpoenas, and followed digital and physical leads across county lines. But weeks turned into months without a single breakthrough. His family, meanwhile, endured the agony of uncertainty — organizing vigils, circulating flyers, and pleading for any information that might bring Lazarus home.
Then, nearly four months later, the investigation took a decisive turn. Huntsville police received an anonymous tip that led them to Montgomery, specifically the 29,000 block of Highway 20. The information suggested a connection between Lazarus’s disappearance and a man named Kylan James Haley, a 19-year-old who had recently come under police scrutiny.
Detectives located and interviewed Haley on November 5, and his statements — along with other evidence — guided investigators to a remote area where they made the devastating discovery. There, they found the remains of Lazarus Howard III, confirming the family’s worst fears.
According to preliminary reports, investigators believe the young man’s death was the result of a homicide, though specific details surrounding how and when it occurred have not yet been released. A murder warrant has since been issued for Kylan Haley, who now faces extradition proceedings to Huntsville to answer to the charges.
The discovery has left both the Huntsville and Montgomery communities shaken. Lazarus, affectionately known as “Zae” to his friends, was remembered as someone with a contagious laugh and an easygoing nature. “He could make you smile on your worst day,” one close friend shared. “He didn’t deserve this — none of this makes sense.”
His mother, who had spent countless nights praying for her son’s safe return, now faces the unthinkable reality of saying goodbye. “He was more than my son,” she said through tears. “He was my best friend. Every day I waited for that phone call. Now I just wish I could hear his voice one more time.”
Police have not released a motive, but investigators continue to piece together the events that unfolded between Lazarus’s last phone call in July and the discovery of his body in November. Authorities are reviewing phone records, digital data, and any possible connection between Lazarus and Haley to understand what led to this tragic ending.
Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles praised the persistence of the investigative team but acknowledged the sorrow behind the outcome. “This is not how we ever want a case to end,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the Howard family, and we will continue to seek full justice for Lazarus.”
As the community mourns, a memorial has begun forming outside Lazarus’s former apartment — flowers, candles, and handwritten notes of love and remembrance. Many residents have expressed frustration and sadness over the growing number of young lives lost to violence.
What remains clear is that Lazarus Howard III was deeply loved — by his family, his friends, and his city. Though his journey ended far too soon, his spirit continues to resonate in the hearts of all who knew him.
May his memory bring peace to those left behind, and may justice soon be served in his name.
Tags: #LazarusHoward #HuntsvilleNews #JusticeForLazarus #CommunityMourning #CrimeUpdate
