Zachary Lavel Jackson Jr. is charged in the killing of his mother, longtime educator Lana Brown Bradley.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — A 29-year-old Natchez man accused of killing and dismembering his mother waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday, moving the case toward grand jury review after a welfare check uncovered a violent death at a Melanie Road home.

Zachary Lavel Jackson Jr. remains in custody at the Adams County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, mayhem and tampering with physical evidence. The case has drawn wide attention because of the victim, 62-year-old Lana Brown Bradley, a retired teacher, and because of what deputies said they found when relatives asked authorities to check on her April 4.

The court step means prosecutors no longer have to present early testimony in a preliminary hearing before moving the case forward. Instead, the next major decision rests with a grand jury, which will review evidence and decide whether to indict Jackson. Sheriff Travis Patten has said the investigation remains active and described the scene as one of the hardest cases of his law enforcement career. No next court date had been made public after the preliminary hearing was waived.

Deputies went to Bradley’s home after her oldest son reported that family members had not been able to reach her. Bradley lived in the home with two younger sons, including Jackson, according to officials. Her middle son was away at work, and her oldest son had grown concerned after attempts to contact his mother failed. What began as a welfare check became a missing-person investigation when deputies did not immediately find Bradley inside the house. Patten later said deputies were met by the smell of cleaning chemicals and a floor that appeared unusually slick. The older son told authorities the condition of the home was not normal and that it was unusual for Jackson to be cleaning in that way.

The search soon focused on a locked bathroom. Investigators heard splashing inside and found Jackson in the room, Patten said. Deputies saw a dark substance in the toilet, and officials later said it was connected to Bradley’s remains. Patten told local reporters that a plumber was called to remove the toilet as part of the investigation. Some remains were found in the plumbing area, while other remains were located elsewhere on the property. Deputies also found body parts in a suitcase, according to statements attributed to the sheriff. The full cause and manner of death have not been publicly detailed in the available court record, and investigators have not released all forensic findings.

Outside the home, deputies and family members searched nearby wooded land. Patten said the property search covered more than the immediate house because investigators believed evidence might have been moved. He said family members went in one direction while deputies searched another. During that search, someone shouted that a head had been found. Officials have said they withheld some details early in the case out of respect for Bradley’s family and to protect the investigation. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisted the Adams County Sheriff’s Office as deputies worked through the home, surrounding land and possible evidence locations.

Investigators have pointed to a possible dispute inside the home. Patten said Bradley had become afraid for her safety and was trying to evict Jackson before she was killed. He also said Jackson allegedly threatened his mother the day before she was found dead. Family members told investigators Jackson had struggled with mental instability, but Patten said the evidence suggested deliberate action. The sheriff said Jackson appeared to have cleaned the home, hidden remains and tried to dispose of evidence. Those details form the basis of the tampering charge, while the mayhem count reflects allegations tied to the condition of Bradley’s body.

Bradley’s death also struck the Natchez area because of her years in education. Local reports and statements from officials described her as a respected retired educator and longtime Adams County resident. Former students and community members remembered her as a steady adult presence in local schools. Her family has also described her as someone who wrote poetry and cared deeply about children and learning. Those remembrances have shaped public reaction to the case, which moved from a missing-person call to a homicide investigation within hours.

The charges remain allegations, and Jackson has not been convicted. First-degree murder generally requires proof of deliberate design under Mississippi law, while second-degree murder covers other forms of murder without the same element of premeditation. Prosecutors often charge multiple counts early in a case as investigators work through evidence, witness statements and forensic findings. A grand jury may return an indictment as charged, alter the charges or decline to indict on some counts. Defense filings, mental health evaluations and forensic reports could also shape the case before any trial is scheduled.

For investigators, the next steps include completing forensic testing, preserving evidence from the home and plumbing, and preparing the case for grand jury review. Officials have not publicly released a full timeline of Bradley’s final hours. They also have not said what weapon, if any, was used, or whether any formal eviction papers had been filed before the killing. The sheriff’s office has said more information may be released when it will not harm the case.

The next public milestone is expected to come when prosecutors file or decline formal indictment papers. Jackson remained jailed Friday, May 22, while the Adams County case awaited grand jury action.

Author note: Last updated Friday, May 22, 2026.