Deputies said the case began as a welfare check after relatives could not reach retired educator Lana Brown Bradley.
NATCHEZ, Miss. — A Mississippi man has been charged in the death of his mother after deputies said they found him inside her home during a welfare check that led investigators to dismembered remains on the property.
Zachary Lavel Jackson Jr., 29, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, mayhem and tampering with physical evidence in the death of 62-year-old Lana Brown Bradley, a retired educator in Adams County. Authorities said deputies went to Bradley’s home on Melanie Road on April 4 after a family member reported that relatives had not been able to reach her.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called about 12:30 p.m. that day for what first appeared to be a welfare check. The case changed quickly when Bradley could not be found and deputies began treating the matter as a missing-person investigation. Sheriff Travis Patten later said the scene inside the home showed signs that someone had been cleaning. He said deputies noticed a strong chemical smell and slippery floors. Jackson, who authorities later identified as Bradley’s son, was found inside a bathroom. Patten said deputies heard splashing before entering and saw a dark substance in the toilet that raised immediate concern. Investigators later said the substance was part of Bradley’s remains.
Authorities said the search then spread from the house to the surrounding property. Family members and deputies looked through a wooded area near the home while investigators continued working inside. Patten said the search changed when someone yelled that a head had been found. Deputies also found some remains in a suitcase, and officials said a plumber was called to remove the toilet as part of the search for evidence. The sheriff’s office said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisted because of the complex nature of the scene. Local service providers, the Adams County Coroner’s Office and Adams County Water Works also were thanked by officials for help during the response. The sheriff’s office has not released a full autopsy report or a final cause of death.
Bradley was identified by the sheriff’s office as a retired educator and a longtime, respected member of the Adams County community. Public accounts described her as a teacher, mother and writer who enjoyed poetry. Relatives and former colleagues remembered her as warm, dedicated and deeply connected to students. Authorities said Jackson was initially described only as a family member before investigators confirmed he was Bradley’s youngest son. Reports said Bradley had lived at the home with two younger sons, while an older son asked for the welfare check after not hearing from her. Officials have not said when investigators believe Bradley died, how long the remains were in the home or whether anyone else was present when she was killed.
Patten said relatives had told investigators that Bradley was trying to have Jackson removed from the home before she was found dead. He said she had gone to court the day before deputies arrived and that Jackson had allegedly threatened her over the eviction effort. The sheriff also said family members had raised concerns about Jackson’s mental health over time, while adding that investigators believed the alleged acts after the death were deliberate. No motive has been formally announced in court records cited in public reports. The allegations remain accusations, and Jackson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. It was not immediately clear from early public reports whether he had entered pleas to the charges.
Jackson was booked into the Adams County Jail after investigators developed enough evidence to bring charges, the sheriff’s office said. The charges include two murder counts, mayhem and tampering with physical evidence. Mayhem is a serious offense tied to violent injury or disfigurement under Mississippi law. The evidence-tampering charge reflects the accusation that body parts were moved, hidden or flushed after Bradley’s death. Investigators have described the case as one requiring support beyond a routine patrol response. Patten said in a statement that deputies recognized early that they were dealing with more than a welfare check, preserved the scene, took witness statements and detained the suspect while investigators continued gathering evidence.
Jackson appeared in court on April 28 and waived his right to a preliminary hearing, according to public reports from the hearing. That decision moved the case toward review by a grand jury. A preliminary hearing would have tested whether enough evidence existed to keep the case moving at that stage. By waiving it, Jackson allowed the case to proceed without that hearing. Prosecutors can now present the matter to a grand jury, which would decide whether to indict him on the charges. His attorney was identified in public reports as Paul Sullivan. Early reports said news outlets had not received a response from the defense when they sought comment.
The sheriff’s office has released only limited details about the evidence. It has not released the full investigative report, autopsy findings or a detailed timeline of Bradley’s final days. Officials also have not said whether investigators recovered weapons, whether surveillance video exists or whether additional forensic testing is pending. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s role may include evidence processing, crime scene support and coordination with local investigators. Patten called the case one of the most difficult of his career and said, “This is a type of case that follows you home.” The comment came as officials described a scene that deeply affected deputies, relatives and others called to the property.
Bradley’s death drew attention beyond Natchez because of the allegations and because she was remembered locally as an educator. The sheriff’s office said its condolences were with Bradley’s family and others affected by the case. Public tributes focused on her years in education and her writing, while law enforcement statements focused on the criminal investigation. Officials did not release a funeral timeline in the law enforcement updates. The case now shifts from the search and arrest phase to the court process, where prosecutors will decide how to present the evidence and what charges to pursue before a grand jury.
Jackson remained held in Adams County as the case moved toward grand jury review. As of the latest public reports, no trial date had been announced, and investigators had not released a final report on Bradley’s death.
Author note: Last updated Thursday, May 7, 2026.