Joyce LaDell Strickland was a kind and familiar face in the small town of Gloster, Louisiana. A 49-year-old white female, she had worked for eight years as a teller at the local Community Bank, where she was known for the positive impact she had on everyone she met. She was a loving wife to her husband, Les, and a devoted mother to their two sons, Seth and Jacob, whom she considered her greatest blessings.
Joyce loved spending time outdoors and cherished all of God's creations.
The morning of August 28, 2023, was shattered by an act of violence that began with a 911 call. At 10:22 a.m., dispatchers in DeSoto Parish received a call from a man who stated he had just shot his mother inside their home on Meadow Drive. When deputies arrived, they were met by the caller, who was identified as Joyce’s 24-year-old son, Seth Strickland. He was immediately taken into custody without incident.
Upon entering the residence, deputies found Joyce Strickland on the floor. She had sustained a single gunshot wound to the back of her head and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation that followed indicated that a domestic incident had escalated to a tragic and fatal conclusion.
Seth Strickland was transported to the DeSoto Detention Center, where he was booked on a charge of second-degree murder. The community was left to grapple with the profound loss of a woman remembered for her warmth and generosity, and a memorial service was held to celebrate her life.
Following his arrest, Seth Strickland was tried and convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his mother. He later appealed the verdict, but the conviction was upheld by the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal, bringing the case to its legal conclusion.
