Christopher Neely, Jordan Neely’s uncle, was arrested in New York City but was released without bail when his attorney said his family needed him to deal with Jordan’s death.
Neely has a long criminal record that includes over 70 arrests.
He had two active warrants at the time of his arrest.
Prosecutors wanted Neely held on $10,000 bail because he was on probation in a 2019 grand larceny case when he was arrested.
But Neely’s public defender, Gurmeet Singh, said his client had been a father figure to Jordan and the family needed its ‘rock.’
He said:
“I think it’s no secret the family and Mr. Christopher Neely are going through a very, very tough period in their life.
“It’s been a very hard experience for the family, a very harrowing experience.
“Christopher Neely has been a rock for the family and is taking care of them.”
After a brief struggle with police, Neely was cuffed