Murdered man's family seeks closure

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WALA) - A Baldwin County family is mourning the loss of their loved one. Authorities said they believe 21-year-old Donald Howard was shot and killed in Fairhope. According to the family, deputies still haven’t found his body.

Howard’s family said he was growing into a young man and working toward his dream of being a music artist.

"He was growing up to make his family, and more importantly his mother, proud of who he was and who he wanted to be,” said Derrick Howard.

Derrick and Quinten Howard are the victim's cousins. They grew up with him in Fairhope and said Howard expressed himself through music.

"He's always felt the rhythm… snapped to the beat. That was just who he was. His testimony was his music. His music was his life,” said Quinten Howard.

As the family continues to mourn the loss of Howard, they still want closure. They said investigators have not found Howard’s body.

Deputies said they found a large amount of evidence at the scene Thursday, but didn't find Howard’s body. The district attorney's office, however, said they found enough evidence to charge 22-year-old Immanuel Jenkins with capital murder.

"It usually ends up being a circumstantial case, but circumstantial cases can be won. And we feel very strongly about the evidence and about the testimony of the witnesses we have that we will be successful in prosecution if we don't turn up the body,” said Captain Steve Arthur with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

The family especially wants Howard’s mother to have peace in knowing where her son’s body is.

"If there is anything that anybody can tell us or tell her to help bring her comfort and peace that she deserves, that's just what she is seeking. That is what we are all seeking,” said Quinten Howard.

The family asks if you know anything about this case to call the Baldwin County Sheriff’s County Office.