THE MISSING FILES: Mom of vanished Bradley Stracener slams those with info for refusing to 'get involved'
VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA: It has been over three years that Bradley C Stracener's family has heard from him. The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office reportedly found no leads after Bradley mysteriously disappeared on October 30, 2019, in the area of Sandy Hills in Vernon Parish. The car Bradley was last seen in was found abandoned near Highway 10, but according to authorities, it did not belong to him.
"Bradley is an extremely intelligent young man," his mother, Toni, 55, told MEAWW. "My son would have turned 34 on July 29. His extensive knowledge and skills in such a vast array of things peaked the interest of a lot of people much older than him. From studying Socrates and Plato to welding and carpentry, his talents were massive."
READ MORE
"Bradley loves outdoors and is a woodsman. He is right at home in the woods and loves the solitude. He loves his family with all of his heart," she added. "Bradley and I shared a bond that was unlike any other. It was as if I sensed it when he was concerned. He and I shared almost everything and I know without a doubt how much he loved me -- wholeheartedly and unconditionally."
'I still can hear those words almost four years later'
"I remember our last conversation very well. It was the morning of the day he disappeared," Toni recalled. "He had cooked me breakfast and came in and woke me up. As I sat eating in bed he sat down and said, "Mom, I just want you to know that you may not think my siblings and I pay attention to or notice the things you have done for us or the things that you have given up for us to have what we do, but I want you to know that I do. I love and appreciate it all. It doesn't go unnoticed, definitely not by me." I still can hear those words almost four years later."
On being asked what she suspects may have happened to Bradley, she said, "I wish I could answer this question. Some things have been brought up that I can't elaborate on at this time but if true, I may never know what happened or where my son is."
She added, "I am positive that there are people out there who know what happened. Not what they have heard through the sordid rumors, but actual information. I don't know how anyone with blood in their veins could live with putting another human being through such torture and torment just to keep from getting "involved." I don't ask for your involvement, only answers. I only ask that you do what I would were the situation reversed and you find yourself living in the hell that I am in every single day. You may hide it from me, but you cannot hide it from God. What's done in the dark always comes into the light."
When a search for Bradley failed
Talking about law enfocement's involvement in Bradley's disappearance, Toni said, "Police and law enforcement have put forth only as much effort as needed to appear to be cooperative."
"In the beginning, I attempted to hold a search for Bradley, and 84 registered volunteers, both on foot and ATVs, were scheduled to come. The night before the search I was contacted by the property owner's wife via Messenger, and was told that the sheriff had a meeting with her husband and although she didn't know exactly what was said, the landowner was withdrawing permission for the search and that the sheriff had advised against it," she recalled.
'Please find a way to contact me'
On being asked what she would like to tell Bradley if he could hear her, she said, " Bradley, I love you son. My life has been turned totally upside down since you disappeared. Absolutely nothing makes sense. If you see this, please find a way to contact me. I will never find peace without knowing where you are. Like you once said, "she's my mom, she doesn't know how to give up, so expecting that isn't an option". I will never give up. Your entire family loves and misses you."
On the second anniversary of Bradley's disappearance, the sheriff’s office said they "believe that foul play is probably involved." A Facebook page, titled 'In Search of Bradley C Stracener,' has been set up by his family to raise awareness about his disappearance.
Toni is now a Louisiana Director for a non profit organization called CUE (Community United Effort). "We are the largest nationwide missing persons search organization and serve the US and Canada," Toni said. "In May 2022, we had a search team of 12 cadaver dogs and their handlers here for two days searching for Bradley, but turned up nothing. They plan to return."
Anyone with information about Bradley's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 337-239-2233, or Detective Vance at 337-238-1311.