New Orleans Woman Found Living With Mummified Son’s Remains in Garbage-Filled Home

Body found in Lakeview home

A New Orleans woman is under investigation after authorities discovered she had been living with the mummified remains of her 600-pound son for approximately nine months in deplorable conditions at her Lakeview residence.

The woman, identified as Barbara Hainsworth, an elderly individual described as mentally disabled, was found residing in a severely neglected home filled with trash, roosters, chickens, and rats. The discovery was made on Thursday, May 15, by code enforcement officers from the City of New Orleans.

Authorities were alerted to the state of the property on May 7 after receiving a report from a member of the New Orleans Health Department. Upon inspection, a Code Enforcement investigator encountered what was described as “horrific conditions,” including extreme hoarding, unsanitary waste, and the body of a deceased man. The home was immediately condemned as a health hazard.

When New Orleans Police Department officers questioned Hainsworth about the rotting corpse, she reportedly told them, “That’s my son. He died about nine months ago.” His name was not publicly disclosed, but she stated he had suffered from multiple medical conditions.

Neighbors had filed numerous complaints over time about the deteriorating state of the property, citing foul smells, vermin infestation, and accumulating trash. Public records confirm that Hainsworth had her medical license revoked nearly a decade ago, having previously worked as a doctor.

The property, though condemned, is not currently scheduled for demolition. Code Enforcement has instructed its demolition contractor to be on standby to assist with cleanup efforts, including trash removal and sealing a hole found in the bathroom floor. Plans are in place for the New Orleans Police Department to board up the home.

On May 6, one day before the agency’s formal awareness of the conditions, Hainsworth was fined $6,125, and the home was officially declared a public nuisance.

A mobile crisis unit was dispatched to assess Hainsworth’s mental health, and while she has not been arrested or charged, the case remains under active investigation.