Texas woman accused of child endangerment after human remains found in apartment

ELECTRA, Texas — A Texas woman is accused of endangering a child and failing to report human remains, authorities said.

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Susan Que Smith, of Electra, was arrested Tuesday and charged with endangering a child and tampering with evidence, according to Wichita County online booking records.

According to Electra police Chief Terry Wooten, he and other officers went to the Electra Village Apartments on Dec. 1 in response to a dog barking inside one of the apartments, KFDX-TV reported.

Officers reported foul odors and flies, and upon entering the apartment found the decomposing body of a male that was covered with a blanket and a trash bag, the television station reported.

According to police, Smith then arrived at the apartment with her 11-year-old daughter, KAUZ-TV reported. According to a police report, Smith identified the body as that of Michael West, who was the girl’s father. Smith told officers she had lived with the decomposing body for about four weeks, the television station reported.

Smith reportedly told police she did not report the man’s death because she did not want to be evicted from the apartment.

Police filed child endangerment charges due to the apartment being unlivable, adding that the human remains posed a health risk to the girl, KDFX reported.

Child Protective Services took possession of the child, according to the television station. She was taken to an area hospital to be treated for infected sores from bug bites.

Smith was booked into the Wichita County Jail, according to online records. Bail was set at $7,500.

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