Birmingham’s latest homicide claims the life of a missing man, who was found dead in the woods on Monday afternoon.
Juan Chapman, aged 32, has been identified as the victim by the police.
Two individuals are currently being held on 48-hour investigative holds at the Birmingham City Jail, as they are considered potential suspects.
The family members found Chapman in the woods on Carlos Avenue around 3 p.m.
Chapman’s family contacted the police to report him missing earlier on Monday. However, he had actually been missing since the weekend, and his relatives had already been actively searching for him.
Officer Truman Fitzgerald stated that the exact cause of his death is still under investigation. However, considering all the evidence and circumstances, it is believed that foul play was involved.
Approximately twenty-four friends and relatives gathered at the crime scene, appearing visibly distraught and emotional.
According to Fitzgerald, the information provided by family and friends in this case is crucial. He emphasized that their knowledge is valuable, and it is only a matter of effectively communicating that information to the detectives.
He said that our detectives have been speaking with many family members and expressed hope that someone will be taken into custody soon.
Fitzgerald was unaware at that time that the family members were already searching for the victim in that particular area of the woods.
Fitzgerald expressed his main concern about the availability of information from family members and friends. He emphasized the importance of getting all relevant information to their detectives.
Birmingham has already seen seven homicides in 2025, with Chapman being the most recent victim. Meanwhile, Jefferson County as a whole has recorded a total of 12 homicides, including the seven in Birmingham.
In January of last year, Birmingham saw a total of six homicides, the most recent occurring on January 25, 2024.
If you have any additional information, please contact detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
