Pearl River Woman Arrested for Manslaughter of Son

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 74-year-old Sharon Lambert of Pearl River  Monday (April 19, 2021) on manslaughter charges stemming from the 2020 death of her adopted, mentally disabled adult son. She was arrested at her Pearl River-area residence following a more than seven-month long investigation into the death of Lambert’s 19-year-old mentally disabled adopted son, Jonathan Lambert.

Deputies were dispatched to the residence on September 9, 2020, after family members reported Jonathan Lambert unresponsive. Responding deputies located Jonathan Lambert deceased on the floor of the residence. He appeared to be severely malnourished and neglected. At that time the body was turned over to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office.

While at the residence, deputies also located, Sharon’s Lambert’s elderly husband and two more adult disabled adopted children that were also severely neglected and malnourished, requiring immediate medical care.

In November, 2020, the St. Tammany Coroner’s Office completed its investigation and ruled the death a homicide and determined the cause of death to be complications of dehydration, starvation and neglect. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office continued its investigation and warrants issued for manslaughter in her son’s death and for cruelty to the infirmed for each of the other family members.

Sharon Lambert was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on the above listed charges.  Bond was set at $100,000.00. Another individual, Dianne Hester (age 62) who also lived at the home at the time, was  determined to be equally responsible, but has since died.

“It is always a tragedy when a life is lost. I’m extremely pleased with the persistent work of my investigators who worked tirelessly on this case to ensure the responsible party has been arrested and will be held accountable,” Sheriff Randy Smith said.