GRETNA, La. (TCN) — A 37-year-old woman has been indicted on second-degree murder charges by a grand jury in connection with the drowning death of her newborn baby, who was found in a porta potty earlier this year.
WWL-TV reports that on March 26, Lakesha Lemelle entered a Waffle House restaurant at approximately 3 a.m. and told employees she had given birth nearby; she reportedly slept near the restaurant every day, and the employees gave her food so she would not have to eat from the dumpster. WDSU reports that Lemelle allegedly asked employees to call an ambulance for herself, and one of the cooks from the restaurant went to the porta potty to investigate.
They dialed 911 and after authorities arrived at the restaurant, Lemelle allegedly told them to check the porta potty at a construction site located nearby; a newborn baby boy was found inside the tank, according to WDSU.
An autopsy was conducted on the newborn, according to WWL-TV. He was full term, born alive, and weighed about seven pounds. He died from asphyxia due to drowning, and relatives named him Jeremiah. Investigators learned that Lemelle was homeless at the time she gave birth and that family members were unaware she was pregnant.
NOLA.com reports that relatives worked with Compassionate Burials for Indigent Babies, an organization dedicated to providing funeral services for children whose families can’t afford funerals or who were abandoned. Founder Lise Naccari told the outlet, “They were very saddened by the whole event and expressed that they would have taken in the baby had they known [Lemelle was pregnant].”
Lemelle was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder on July 16, according to WWL-TV. Her arraignment was scheduled for July 20 after she refused to leave the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on July 17.
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