Lawanda McGee, a recent nursing school graduate and mother, was found decomposing in her St. Louis apartment on January 21, 2026, after a welfare check prompted by family and her building manager.​
Discovery Details
Police believe McGee died around December 15, 2025, based on her last Facebook post and neighbors’ sightings from mid-December; she was behind on rent, and her body showed weeks of decomposition on the couch, covered in blankets.
Her roommate, 49-year-old Terrance Smith, allegedly lived there for 38 days post-death, passing the body daily while airing out odors; his items remained inside when police arrived.
Arrest and Charges
Smith returned February 2, leading to his arrest; he’s charged with abandonment of a corpse and held on $100,000 bond, with a preliminary hearing set for March 4.
Family Response
McGee’s sister, Ashley Barrett, described their close bond amid family losses and expressed outrage over the neglect; a GoFundMe aids funeral costs and McGee’s 13-year-old daughter, as toxicology results for cause of death are pending.
