Mother of missing Vernon man last seen six years ago found dead

Published 5:09 pm Monday, March 9, 2026

The mother of a Vernon Parish man missing for more than six years has been found dead, according to Beauregard Parish authorities.

Sheriff Mark Herford confirmed to the American Press that an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the death of Toni James. Herford said her body was found in her car parked outside her Beauregard Parish residence last week.

Toxicology and other test results are pending, Herford said.

James had been vocal on social media the last few years, accusing Vernon Parish detectives of mishandling the investigation into the disappearance of her son, Bradley Stracener, and alleging they were covering up his homicide. Stracener was last seen on October 30, 2019 in the Sandy Hill area in Vernon Parish.

According to reports, Stracener, who would be 35 now, was last seen by James when he left his home driving a Ford Focus that belonged to his girlfriend at the time. The next evening, the car was found about two miles away, unlocked with the keys inside, but no sign of Stracener.

In 2024, Morgan Baggett, the mother of Stracener’s son, began a TikTok campaign to highlight Stracener’s case, but authorities say there have still been no major leads in the case.