Roommate charged after body of nursing school graduate found decomposing in apartment

Terrance Smith faces charges of abandonment of a corpse after allegedly letting his roommate's body decompose for weeks

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:15am

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The body of a Missouri woman, Lawanda McGee, was found decomposing in her apartment. Her roommate, Terrance Smith, has been charged with abandonment of a corpse for allegedly letting her body decompose for 38 days and trying to cover it up.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the importance of wellness checks and staying connected with loved ones, especially after periods of silence. It also raises questions about mental health support and how to prevent such disturbing incidents from occurring.

The details

According to police, McGee's body was found on January 21st, and authorities believe she died around December 15th. Her roommate, Terrance Smith, is accused of leaving her body to decompose for over a month, covering it with blankets and trying to air out the apartment to mask the smell.

  • McGee's body was found on January 21, 2026.
  • Authorities believe McGee died around December 15, 2025.

The players

Lawanda McGee

A Missouri woman who had recently graduated from nursing school.

Terrance Smith

McGee's 49-year-old roommate, who has been charged with abandonment of a corpse.

Ashley Barrett

McGee's sister, who became concerned after not hearing from her for weeks and started calling hospitals and other places to try to find her.

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What they’re saying

“She had just graduated from nursing school, so we were excited to see what she was preparing us for.”

— Ashley Barrett, McGee's sister (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“He sat with her for 38 days and just walked past her every day. He covered her with blankets. He tried to air the place out so no one could smell it.”

— Ashley Barrett, McGee's sister (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

Authorities are waiting for the results of Lawanda McGee's toxicology report to determine the cause of her death. Terrance Smith's bond has been set at $100,000.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the importance of staying connected with loved ones and the need for greater mental health support to prevent such disturbing incidents. It also raises questions about how to better monitor the welfare of vulnerable individuals living alone.