Cumberland County authorities said Friday the decomposed body of James Jordan, father of Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, was found in a South Carolina creek and the elder Jordan had been shot in the chest.
"The body was confirmed to be that of Mr. Jordan early this morning," Cumberland County Sheriff Morris Bedsole said.The body was found Aug. 3 in a creek in Bennettsville, S.C., the same day the elder Jordan's car - a red Lexus 400 - was found stripped and abandoned in a wooded area near Fayetteville.
Authorities used dental records to identify the body that had been listed as a "John Doe" since it was found 10 days earlier.
"The only thing we know was (he was killed) by a single gunshot wound to the chest," Sheriff's Capt. Art Binder said. The chief of detectives said the lone wound was from a .38-caliber bullet.
"He obviously had been in the water for some time," Binder said. He said the autopsy was performed by South Carolina authorities and it was not immediately determined how long Jordan had been dead.
Jordan, 57, disappeared July 22 while on his way to Charlotte, N.C., after attending a friend's funeral in Wilmington, N.C. Jordan lived in Charlotte with his wife.
"We found he went to the funeral," Bedsole said.
The family filed a missing person report Thursday and the FBI was called into the case because the case crossed state lines. Authorities said the elder Jordan periodically would leave without telling his family where he was going but usually only for a couple days at a time.
"They hadn't felt the need to report Mr. Jordan missing," Union County Sheriff Frank McGuirt said.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he was shocked and saddened by the news. "Mr. Jordan was a great friend to all of us in the Bulls organization and a part of the Bulls family," he said.
"We will remember him for his positive and happy outlook on life. Deloris, Michael and the entire Jordan family are in our prayers, and we extend to them our deepest sympathy."