Member-only story
Murder, Meth, or an Innocent Mishap: What Happened to Brandon Lawson?
Brandon Lawson had a lot to live for. He had been dedicated to his fiancee, Ladessa Lofton, for 10 years and the couple had three children. Brandon also had a child from a previous relationship. By all accounts, Brandon was a loving and attentive father. But he had struggled with substance abuse issues in the past and had recently relapsed shortly before his disappearance in 2013.
More than six years later, Brandon’s family and those familiar with the case still wonder whether his drug issues played a role in his disappearance and, if so, what role?
Into the Darkness
The evening of August 9, 2013, wasn’t a very good one for Brandon Lawson. The 26-year-old San Angelo, Texas, resident was an oil field worker who sometimes spent 13 hours on the job at a time. According to Ladessa, Brandon sometimes worked 95 hours a week. The long hours precipitated a job change, and Brandon was to start his new job soon. [1]
When a very tired Brandon arrived home on August 9, his exhaustion only grew worse when he began arguing with his fiancee. [2] He was said to have been in “panic mode.” But Ladessa had a right to be angry; her common-law husband hadn’t come home at all the previous night and she was frustrated by his recent drug use.
In a rage, Brandon left the family’s home intending to drive to his father’s house in the town of Crowley, a 3.5-hour drive away. [1] Worried about her fiancee’s state of mind behind the wheel, Ladessa phoned Brandon and asked him not to go all the way to Crowley. It was already after midnight. Instead, Ladessa suggested he make the five-mile trek to his brother’s house to spend the night.
Brandon switched gears and started driving north on Highway 277 towards Abilene, abandoning his journey towards his father’s house along Highway 67. This doesn’t necessarily mean he decided to heed Ladessa’s advice, however. It’s…
