ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Prosecutors have charged a 49-year-old man with abandoning a corpse after police conducting a welfare check found a woman’s body inside an apartment in the 8800 block of Dragonwyck Drive, authorities said.
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The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, it issued a charge of Abandonment of a Corpse against Terrance Smith, 49, of the 8800 block of Dragonwyck Drive in St. Louis, Mo., 63121. Smith is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond with no 10% option, the office said.
The probable cause statement says St. Louis County Police conducted the welfare check on Jan. 21, 2026, at the request of L.M.’s cousin and the property management. L.M. was found lying on a couch under blankets and clothing, the statement says. She “displayed signs of decomposition, no pulse, and was cold to touch,” and was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2026, according to the statement.
Investigators learned neighbors had not seen L.M. since mid-December 2025, that she was behind on rent, and that her last Facebook post was on Dec. 15, 2025, the statement says.
Police also learned Smith was observed at the apartment the night before and that his personal items were inside, according to the statement. He was not found in the area at that time, the statement says.
On Feb. 2, 2026, Smith returned to the apartment complex, and the leasing office notified police, the statement says. Officers responded and arrested him. Smith stated that he lived at the apartment with L.M., according to the statement.
St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are handling the investigation, authorities said.
These charges, as well as the statements made herein, are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
