A 37‑year‑old Louisiana woman, Lekesha Lemelle, has been charged with second‑degree murder after a newborn she allegedly delivered was found dead in a porta‑potty near a Waffle House in Gretna, according to court documents and local news reports.
What happened
- Police and EMS responded around 3:15 a.m. on March 26 to the Waffle House on the West Bank Expressway after staff were told a woman had given birth in a nearby portable toilet.
- Officers located Lemelle and she reportedly told them she had given birth but could not say when or describe the baby’s condition.
- A dead newborn was later found at the bottom of the porta‑potty tank in a nearby shopping‑center or construction‑site area.
Medical findings and charges
- The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office ruled the baby’s cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning, meaning the infant died after being submerged in the toilet’s contents.
- Authorities have identified the baby as being alive at birth, heightening the gravity of the case.
Legal status and background
- Lemelle was hospitalized following the incident and is expected to be arrested and booked on the second‑degree murder charge once released.
- Details about whether she has entered a plea or secured an attorney are not yet publicly clear.
This case has drawn attention to the intersection of maternal health, homelessness, and how such situations are handled under criminal law in Louisiana.
