Missouri Man Charged After Allegedly Living With Decomposing Roommate For Month
Authorities in St. Louis County have charged 49-year-old Terrance Smith with the abandonment of a corpse after police discovered human remains inside his shared apartment. Officers conducting a welfare check on January 21, 2026, found the decomposing body of 47-year-old Lwanda McGee on a couch, concealed under layers of blankets and clothing. Investigators estimate the victim had been deceased since mid-December 2025, suggesting the body remained in the residence for approximately 38 days while Smith allegedly continued to inhabit the space.
Court documents indicate that family members and property management requested the police intervention after McGee had not been seen for over a month and fell behind on rent payments. Detectives allege that Smith took measures to hide the condition of the remains, including attempting to air out the apartment to mitigate the odor of decomposition. Smith, who was reportedly observed at the apartment shortly before the discovery, was subsequently arrested and is currently being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. The official cause of death for McGee remains under investigation pending toxicology results.
