Mississippi man who didn’t show up at son’s house on Christmas Eve found dead in Alabama

Published 7:22 am Saturday, December 30, 2023

A Mississippi man who had been reported missing after he failed to show up at his son’s house on Christmas Eve has been found dead.

Joseph Ladnier, 60, was reported missing Christmas Eve when he did not show up at his son’s Moss Point house.

WLOX in Biloxi reports that on Friday, Ladnier’s body was found on a rural Alabama road northwest of Mobile in the Chunchula community.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

The day before, authorities reported finding Ladnier’s red 2004 Toyota Tundra backed into an abandoned driveway in the 9100 block of Chunchula Landfill Road. The truck was discovered by Mobile County Road and Bridge personnel.

Officials from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office report that belongings found in Ladnier’s truck include a pillow, a computer bag with a laptop inside, $146 in cash and a pistol holder with no pistol.

A search was launched by multiple agencies including members of Southern Star Search and Rescue who used canines. The animals could pick up the scent of what they believed to be Ladnier to 8551 Chunchula Landfill Road.

Officials say a residence on the property appeared vacant and had no evidence that Ladnier had been inside.

Friday afternoon, at approximately 2 p.m., Ladnier’s body was found near the area in which his truck was parked.

The family has since been notified.

No cause of death has been released and the case continues to be under investigation.