James Barnes-Morris, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in the death of his 24-year-old girlfriend, whose body was found in a Madison, Wisconsin retention pond days after she went missing in late September 2024. A first-degree intentional homicide charge was dismissed under the plea deal, per court records. Prior abuse allegations, threats, and suspicious witness accounts preceded her disappearance.
Incident Timeline
Strattan was reported missing by her father on October 1, 2024; her body surfaced two days later in the pond. Witnesses saw the couple arguing on September 29 near a road, with Barnes-Morris appearing alone and distressed the next day, carrying wet sneakers and scratches. He was evasive about her location and later hid in a friend’s apartment, where police found her phone and cards in a backyard suitcase.
Evidence and Witness Statements
Barnes-Morris admitted to a friend he “left her” in a marshy area after a walk. Partygoers reported jealousy-fueled arguments, Strattan accepting a stay offer, and his threats to kill her. He later made ominous remarks like “I had to get rid of her” and needing “another brick and a rope.” Her journals detailed prior beatings, and texts showed her fear of meeting him on September 29.
Relationship Context
The couple’s fights escalated at social gatherings, including flirting incidents that enraged Barnes-Morris. Strattan expressed mortal fear in messages and writings about his violence. No further court updates or sentencing details appear in the provided complaint summary.
