“Bizarre Text Messages and Two Missing Persons Cases in NOLA are Connected”

In August 2019, a 23-year-old man from Metairie went missing in New Orleans. Bruce “B.J.” Jacobs, Jr., who went by the nickname Jay Lodie, was arrested by New Orleans police after acting strangely at The Herb Import Company at 5055 Canal Street in Mid City. He was in a daze and placing various items from the store’s shelves in his pockets and continued doing so even after police arrived. B.J. was later released from the Orleans Justice Center wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, and white Nike shoes. He left jail on foot and began walking. Somehow and someway, B.J. went missing on this day and was never seen alive by his family again.

B.J.’s family reported him missing to the NOPD and began canvasing the city with flyers and posters alerting the public to his disappearance. During the early morning hours of August 15, 2019, a friend of B.J.’s began receiving bizarre text messages from an unfamiliar phone number, (504)-500-8372. This friend quickly contacted B.J.’s mother and forwarded the messages to her. B.J.’s mother then began communicating with this person claiming to be her missing son and luring her to the American Can apartments at 3700 Orleans Avenue in Mid City. B.J.’s mother drove to the apartment building but would not go inside. The texts became increasingly desperate and stated that he feared “they would kill him” if she did not go to the third floor. After the person failed to respond to a series of texts asking personal questions that only B.J. could answer, she eventually decided to leave.

Later that same day, B.J.’s decomposed body was found by an alert train conductor in New Orleans East lying next to a set of railroad tracks. However, B.J. was now wearing blue clothing and not the white t-shirt and black jeans he left jail in. According to B.J.’s family, police found paperwork in his pockets belonging to another missing person from New Orleans, 53-year-old Gregory McGee, who also went missing in August 2019. B.J.’s family members contend that he and McGee did not know each other. This uncanny clue has led B.J.’s family to believe not only that both cases are connected but that foul play is certainly involved.

Ironically, McGee’s disappearance has received much local media attention, as B.J.’s has received none. After McGee was initially reported missing to police, the story was covered by local media outlets. NOPD then released additional information stating that McGee’s disappearance is being treated as a homicide investigation, leading to a subsequent story by the New Orleans media.

On the other hand, B.J.’s mother contacted reporters with WDSU Channel 6 to break the news of her son’s disappearance and the possibility of both cases being linked. She was stonewalled by WDSU and the NOPD, which placed a media block on confirming or releasing details of B.J.’s disappearance or death.

The NOPD has informed B.J.’s family that his body did not appear to suffer any obvious signs of trauma to indicate a homicide or a crime of violence had occurred. The coroner’s office has yet to determine a cause in B.J.’s death.

B.J.’s family also believes that investigators have taken a nonchalant attitude towards the disturbing texts received just prior to the discovery of his body. Detectives dismiss the texts as a likely practical joke by some ill-intentioned person that used a “burner phone.” B.J.’s family contends that the supposed “burner phone” is still operating and that they have since called it.

“The NOLA Tabloid” conducted an online search of the phone number (504)-500-8372 and results show that it is a VOIP, or voice over IP, number such as Skype or Google Voice.

B.J.’s family theorizes that he was the victim of a homicide and that a possible serial killer or killers are operating in New Orleans, that they are responsible for both B.J.’s and McGee’s deaths and many others that have gone missing, and the NOPD is reluctant to make any kind of connection among missing persons cases that may suggest a serial killer or killers are responsible.

If you have any information concerning B.J.'s disappearance or death, the family asks that you please contact them at (504)-320-4060 or e-mail Justice4BruceLodie@gmail.com with any tips.

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