Son lived in home with dead mother's body for six months

A long standoff with Metro Police led to the discovery of the badly decomposed body of an elderly woman inside her Cypress Street home. But police say it is what happened the Friday before Mother's Day that landed Julius C. Harris in jail. His mother, 89-year-old Sina Harris, died of natural causes, but her son never did anything about it.

"He just left her as is and continued to live in that home," said Lt. Barry Wilkerson, commander of the LMPD Homicide Unit.

According to police, it was something the 52-year-old Harris did for six months. Since he didn't have a job, police say he lived off his dead mother's money. "He continued to write checks and cash checks that she was receiving through different agencies and companies," Wilkerson said.



Police say concerned family members called authorities when they didn't hear or see the woman since August. A welfare check by detectives with the Crimes Against Seniors Unit ended in a standoff with SWAT and hostage teams Thursday evening. "Her son, Julius Harris, came to the doorway with gun," said Wilkerson said.

Nine hours later, Harris gave up and detectives made the gruesome discovery inside. The report described a "body decomposed", "not properly cared for" and treated in a way that "would outrage ordinary family sensibilities."

"There are indications in the home that she did pass away in May of this year," said Jim Wesley, a Jefferson County deputy coroner. Harris is charged with abuse of a corpse, along with theft by unlawful taking for more than $500. The charges are both Class D felonies and carry one to five years behind bars for each.

With news video.