A mummified body discovered in a Lakeview home has been identified as 31-year-old Charles Hainsworth, who reportedly lived with his mother, Barbara Hainsworth, in what city officials have described as "extreme hoarding conditions." New Orleans Police Department and the Department of Code Enforcement made the discovery around 3:38 p.m. last Wednesday, when an odor alerting neighbors prompted an investigation. NOLA.com reports the home was filled with trash and infestations.
Barbara Hainsworth, identified as a "mentally disabled elderly woman" in city records, had been cited previously for the house's condition. A February 2024 fine of $6,125 was imposed due to "high weeds, bad smells, rodents, animals," according to documents filed with the city's Healthy Homes Administration, as mentioned in the original citation. The severity of the hoarding became fully apparent only after officers uncovered Hainsworth's mummified remains amidst piles of refuse in the home.
The The Mirror reports that the weight of the deceased was approximately 600 lbs., and the mother claims he had died last year. An orange notice from an earlier inspection by Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals displayed outside the home mentioned the impounding of six hens and a rooster, adding to the chaotic and distressing scene at the property.
Orleans Parish Coroner Dwight McKenna estimated the body had been decomposing for about nine months and emphasized the advanced state of decomposition. "Within 24 hours, people don't realize how fast a body decomposes; this body would just be bones, ashes, and not a very pleasant sight," McKenna explained to reporters, as noted by WWLTV. While he indicated there were no signs of foul play, further toxicology and drug tests are awaited to determine other potential causes of death.
Neighbors have since expressed their disbelief and concern over the situation. One neighbor, who refrained from being named, recounted to NOLA.com how Barbara Hainsworth would push a baby stroller around the neighborhood, only to return with it filled with junk. Another neighbor, George Ramirez, told WWLTV, "How did nobody notice this man gone, no relatives or friends?" highlighting the community's shock and the many questions that still linger regarding the months leading up to the discovery.
