MADISON, WI – A Wisconsin man facing charges in the death of his girlfriend allegedly expressed intent to harm her, according to court documents filed six months after her body was discovered in a pond.
James Barnes-Morris, 25, was charged by the Dane County District Attorney with first-degree intentional homicide with a domestic violence modifier for the murder of Brooke Stratton, 24. Stratton was found dead in a Madison pond in early October, just days after she had been reported missing.
Authorities say Barnes-Morris allegedly made incriminating statements to a friend on the night of September 30, 2024, the last day Stratton was seen alive. A search warrant obtained by investigators reveals that he confided to the friend he “had to get rid of her” and later mentioned needing “more bricks and rope.”
The investigation began after Stratton failed to return home following a heated argument with Barnes-Morris at a mutual friend’s house. Witnesses reported that Stratton sought refuge with another friend, voicing fears that Barnes-Morris might kill her. She left the location at around 7 a.m. the next morning, according to one witness.
Reports indicate that later on the same morning, Barnes-Morris was seen with another friend, appearing wet and with visible bloody scratches on his legs. He allegedly reiterated his earlier statements about having to dispose of Stratton.
Authorities acted swiftly after Stratton’s body was discovered on October 3, 2024. Barnes-Morris was arrested that day, found hiding at a friend’s home with possession of Stratton’s credit cards and cellphone.
The district attorney’s office took several months to review the evidence collected by police, which included witness statements, physical evidence, and autopsy findings. Formal charges were filed in late March, leading to Barnes-Morris’s current detention at the Dodge Correctional Institution.
Scheduled to make a court appearance later this week, Barnes-Morris’s case highlights the grave circumstances leading to Stratton’s tragic death, and the ongoing legal process seeks to determine culpability in this distressing incident.