Authorities in Gretna, Louisiana, have charged 37-year-old Lekesha Lemelle with second-degree murder after a newborn allegedly delivered by the woman was discovered dead in a porta-potty near a Waffle House. An autopsy determined the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, and officials say the baby was alive at birth. Lemelle was hospitalized and will be arrested on the charge once medically released; the investigation is ongoing.
Louisiana Woman Charged With Murder After Newborn Found Dead in Porta‑Potty Near Waffle House
Lekesha LemelleCredit: Gretna Police Department
A Louisiana woman has been charged with second-degree murder after a newborn allegedly delivered by the woman was found dead inside a portable toilet near a Waffle House in Gretna.
What Happened
Police and emergency medical services responded about 3:15 a.m. on March 26 to the Waffle House in Gretna following a report that a woman had given birth in a nearby porta-potty. Authorities identified the suspect as 37-year-old Lekesha Lemelle, according to local news outlets including NOLA.com, WDSU and WVUE.
Waffle HouseCredit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty
When officers arrived, Lemelle allegedly told them she had given birth but could not recall when the delivery occurred or provide details about the infant's condition. Responding officers then checked a portable toilet at a nearby shopping center and found a deceased newborn at the bottom of the tank.
Autopsy and Statements
An autopsy by the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office concluded the infant's cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning. Gretna Police Deputy Chief Jason DiMarco said the baby "was alive at birth," and investigators have said Lemelle is believed to be houseless.
Legal Status and Investigation
Lemelle was taken to a hospital after the incident and, according to authorities, will be arrested on a second-degree murder charge once she is discharged from medical care. It was not immediately clear whether she has entered a plea or retained an attorney. The case remains under active investigation as authorities review evidence and circumstances surrounding the infant's death.
Sources: Local reports from NOLA.com, WDSU and WVUE; Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office; Gretna Police Department.
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