South MS man calls himself a prophet. He’s charged with murder, police say

A Harrison County man who identifies himself as a prophet on social media has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder, following the shooting death of a man in Pass Christian, Police Chief Daren Freeman said.

Police arrested Eric John-Moran Ladnier, 63, on Thursday.

Police made the arrest after responding to a report of a shooting at Ladnier’s home on Demourelle Road around 6 p.m. Wednesday and found a man dead of a gunshot wound.

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer identified the deceased as Marlon Becker, 43, of Pequannock, New Jersey.

After the arrest, Harrison County Justice Court Judge Brandon Lander set Ladnier’s bond at $1 million.

The investigation is continuing.

This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 9:49 AM.

Margaret Baker

Sun Herald

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Margaret is an investigative reporter whose search for truth exposed corrupt sheriffs, a police chief and various jailers and led to the first prosecution of a federal hate crime for the murder of a transgendered person. She worked on the Sun Herald’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Hurricane Katrina team. When she pursues a big story, she is relentless.