Powerlifter & Bodybuilder Joe Ladnier Found Dead at 60-Years-Old

Joe Ladnier, one of the greatest powerlifters from the 1980s, has been found dead at the age of 60-years-old. Ladnier, who has also done bodybuilding, had been missing since Christmas Eve, with the search going on since then. However, unlucky news came on December 29th, when the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed through Facebook that Ladnier was found deceased on Chunchula Landfill Road in Mobile County.

The search for Joe Ladnier lasted for multiple days, with one of the first findings being his truck. Ladnier’s daughter confirmed that the truck was found parked and was not wrecked. So, his daughter expressed hope that Joe was on foot and alive. Unfortunately, shortly after, his body was found as well, and he was pronounced deceased.

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The Story of Joe Ladnier

Joe Ladnier was raised in South Mississippi, but his family tore apart when he was just 15-years-old. So, by the time he was 16, Joe had already become independent, moved out, and paid his own bills. To do so, he began working at the shipyard. In the meantime, Joe also displayed some incredible powerlifting prowess.

At just 18-years-old, Joe Ladnier won multiple teen-age Nationals and soon met Larry Pacifico, who would take him under his wing. The partnership worked well, as Joe continued progressing his lifts and competed as a natural powerlifter.

At 19-years-old, Joe Ladnier decided to make a switch and stop competing as a natural athlete. So, he hopped on a small PED cycle, which led him to a historic feat at the 1983 USPF Men’s Senior Nationals. At that meet, Joe became the first person in the 220-pound (100-kilogram) weight class to total over 2,100 pounds (952.5 kilograms). In fact, he exceeded that milestone by 10.9 pounds (5 kilograms) and won the competition.

However, just three years later, Joe Ladnier decided to go drug-free once again, since he started working in Law Enforcement. He continued competing but was frequently accused of being on something, which forced him to put his powerlifting career on hold.

At one point, Joe Ladnier’s kids found some magazines in which he was featured during his powerlifting peak. So, they were impressed and talked him into returning to the sport, which brought some more appearances for him. He continued to rack up success in powerlifting as expected, but also managed to claim another impressive feat by winning the Mr. Mississippi bodybuilding contest.

In 2009, Joe Ladnier was caught in possession of steroids, which made his life extremely complicated. In particular, since Joe was in law enforcement and caught with illegal substances, his situation made headlines, and he spent a night in jail. Although the charges against him were later dropped, the incident still ruined Joe’s connection with his sponsors, clients, and even some friends. In the following years, Joe struggled with depression, PTSD, and some physical injuries. The situation was seemingly getting better, but Joe was diagnosed with a kidney disease in 2017. His kidney function was at 5% and his life was in danger. After multiple years, Joe got a transplant. However, he was still required to take medicine daily to keep everything under control, which was another reason for concern when he went missing.

Related: German Bodybuilder Andreas Frey Passed Away At 43-Years-Old

Joe Ladnier has taken part in over 50 sanctioned powerlifting competitions over the course of multiple decades. He has won a large majority of those competitions and set some impressive records. His bodybuilding journey was also impressive, with one of his most notable results being a 7th-place finish at the 2007 NPC Masters Nationals.

Joe Ladnier Powerlifting Competition History

The Fitness Volt team would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Joe Ladnier. May he Rest In Peace.