MADISON (WKOW) — The Dane County District Attorney's Office filed a homicide charge against a man nearly six months after a missing McFarland woman was found dead.
According to online court records, James Barnes-Morris, 25, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide with a domestic abuse modifier for a crime that happened on Sept. 29, 2024. A search warrant previously obtained by 27 News said that he and his girlfriend Brooke Strattan, 24, got into a heated argument that day. Her body was recovered from a retention pond near Monroe Street on Oct. 3.
The search warrant stated Barnes-Morris told friends after having a few drinks the night of Sept. 30 "I had to get rid of her," that he "needed more bricks and rope," and "the weeds made it hard."
Barnes-Morris was taken into custody on Oct. 3. The search warrant says he was found hiding in the basement of a friend's house and had a suitcase filled with Strattan's credit cards and her cellphone.
Madison police referred the homicide charge against Barnes-Morris in January. A spokesperson for the Dane County District Attorney's Office previously told 27 News they were waiting to file criminal charges against him until they reviewed the police case files and received the results of Strattan's autopsy.
Barnes-Morris is scheduled to appear in Dane County Court for an initial appearance on Friday.
Court records show Barnes-Morris is being housed at Dodge Correctional Institution. Before the homicide charge was filed, he was being held on a probation violation.
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