Missouri man allegedly lived with roommate’s decomposing corpse for 38 days

CLAYTON, Mo. (TCN) -- A man is in custody after a wellness check found he had allegedly been living with the body of his roommate for over a month, authorities say.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by KTVI, officers conducted a wellness check at an apartment complex at the request of property management, as well as the family of Lawanda McGhee, 47. When officers entered the apartment, they found McGhee’s body on the couch, covered with blankets and clothing. KDSK reports her body was cold to the touch and showed signs of decomposition.

According to KTVI, the last time neighbors had seen McGhee was in mid-December 2025, and she last posted on Facebook on Dec. 15, 2025. Property management also said she was behind on her rent. 

According to police, McGhee’s roommate, Terrance Smith, 49, was not in the home when McGhee’s body was found, but property management contacted police Feb. 2 to tell them he had come back to the apartment, KTVI reports. Smith was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count of abandonment of a corpse. 

KTVI reports McGhee’s sister, Ashley Barnett, said, “He left her body for 38 days decomposing. He covered her and he tried to hide it.”

Family members said McGhee had a 13-year-old daughter and had recently completed nursing school. She had once introduced Smith as her boyfriend, but they reportedly decided to be roommates instead when their relationship didn’t work out, according to KTVI. 

According to KSDK, authorities have not revealed how McGhee died.

KTVI reports Smith remains in custody on a cash-only $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 4. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results, and the investigation is ongoing.

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