The Lazarus Howard III story is one of hope turned to heartbreak for his family and the community of Huntsville. He was reported missing on July 19 after speaking with his mother on July 10 and has been the subject of an intense search ever since. On Wednesday, November 5, the Huntsville Police Department located his body near the 29,000 block of Highway 20, and early signs strongly suggest he was the victim of a homicide.
From the start, his disappearance stirred deep concern. Lazarus was last seen wearing a black top when he spoke with his mother on July 10; nine days later, he was officially reported missing. In the months that followed, investigators with HPD carried out searches of his apartment, issued subpoenas and warrants, and followed countless leads—all while his family held onto hope. Then an anonymous tip turned the direction of the case.
That tip led police to identify Kylan James Haley, 19 years old and from Montgomery, as a person of interest. Investigators traveled to Montgomery on November 5, conducted an interview, and shortly thereafter a search in the Highway 20 area resulted in the discovery of Lazarus’s body. A murder warrant has been issued for Haley, and the extradition process to Madison County is currently underway.
For those who knew Lazarus, the news hits especially hard. Many remember him as a quiet presence who somehow lit up the room with laughter and a gentle caring spirit. You hear it in the words of friends and family who say he was funny, kind, and always there when someone needed a little boost. While the investigation moves ahead, his memory remains anchored in those shared moments of light. (While official statements haven’t disclosed the finer details of motive or how the homicide unfolded, his loved ones are holding on to the way he treated others—simple acts, small gestures—as the part of him that will live on.)
In the city of Huntsville, this case rings with the kind of tragic weight that reminds a community of its fragility. A young man, full of promise, disappears—only to be found months later in circumstances now deemed murder. The local police department has extended its deepest condolences to the Howard family, and is urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Lazarus’s life was cut far too short, leaving behind family, friends, and a community grieving the unfulfilled future. But as the investigation continues, his story is far from just a missing-person case—it’s a call for connection, remembrance, and hope for justice. His laughter, compassion, and gentle soul are the threads his loved ones are holding on to now.
Rest in peace, Lazarus Howard III. Your light is gone from our midst, but the warmth you shared lives on in the hearts you touched.