Suspect identified in Haleigh Green case

COLUMBIANA, Ala. (WIAT) — UPDATE: WIAT 42 talked Thursday with Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego. Samaniego said he is confident law enforcement will have Demarcus Means in custody within the next day or two. Samaniego also said he thinks Haleigh Green and Means had some sort of previous dating relationship.

Original: The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force are looking for 19-year-old Demarcus Lamar Means of Columbiana in connection with the death of 18-year-old Haleigh Green. The Sheriff’s Office announced that murder warrant has been issued for Means.

Anyone with information about the location of Demarcus Means is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777. The organization is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

The bond for the charge is set at $500,000, according to investigators.

“While he Department of Forensic Science worked to determine the cause of death and identify the deceased body found near Haley Green’s car, our investigators continued to follow leads in order to exhaust all efforts in this case,” said Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego.

“I would like to thank the community and all agencies involved for their help in this case and ask for their continued support for the Green and Bivens families,” he continued.

Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee also weighed in on the case Wednesday afternoon.

“While the accused remains innocent until proven guilty, please know that the Office of the District Attorney will likewise work tirelessly to see that justice is done in this case,” said Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee.

Columbiana residents we spoke with hope now that deputies have a suspect in mind, closure may be one step closer.

When Haleigh Green went missing some people in Columbiana dropped what they were doing to search for her. When her car was found in the woods near a body, the focus shifted to showing support for her family.

Columbiana florist Susan Conn says sales of green bows have already raised $10,000 for Haleigh Green’s family.

The city is consumed by what happened to the 18-year-old volleyball player who grew up in the area.

“You know it happens in other towns, but it doesn’t happen in our town and it just makes you mad to know that something like this could happen in our town,” said Conn.

“It’s got a lot of emotion. I don’t want anybody to take it upon themselves to do them harm. Let the courts and let the system handle it,” said Calera resident Brenda Smith.

Columbiana Mayor Stancil Handley says the devastating news about Haleigh Green has shaken the city. Handley put his feelings into words Wednesday afternoon.

”Sadness, heartbreak, disappointment that there are people in our town who are capable of doing this,” said Handley. “Of course the whole community is now looking for -justice we’ll call it – and I think they are well on their way to providing that for us.”