A Louisiana couple has been indicted on murder charges for the second time after allegedly neglecting their adult daughter to the point where she was found deceased, and decaying inside a couch in their home.
Lacey Ellen Fletcher, aged 36, was discovered on January 3, 2022, covered in feces, severely malnourished, and suffering from ulcers, indicating a nearly complete paralysis known as "locked-in" syndrome.
The District Attorney for East and West Feliciana Parishes, Sam D'Aquilla, revealed that a human-sized hole had formed on the couch where she had sat for several years, leading to further unsanitary conditions.
The hole in the couch was filled with feces and urine, and the victim's face, chest, and abdomen had feces forcibly inserted.
Neglected hygiene had resulted in the presence of maggots in her matted hair. The floor beneath the couch was reported to be heavily soiled with feces and urine, causing it to buckle.
The woman had not seen a doctor for approximately two decades, and her weight at the time of death was a mere 96 pounds. The coroner attributed her death, in part, to starvation.
The Victim
The community was left questioning how the parents, Sheila and Clay Fletcher, who resided in the same house as their daughter, allowed her to deteriorate in such a shocking manner.
D'Aquilla described the case as one of extreme cruelty and insisted on pursuing charges. In early May 2022, the parents were formally indicted on second-degree murder charges.
However, their defense attorney successfully argued that the indictments contained defective language, leading the court to dismiss the charges.
Undeterred, the District Attorney vowed to convene a second grand jury to secure new indictments against the Fletchers.
The Suspects
On June 19, 2023, the couple was indicted again, leading to their re-arrest. The trial is anticipated to commence in the fall, and D'Aquilla remains committed to achieving justice for Lacey Fletcher and sending a message that caregivers who neglect or abuse vulnerable individuals will face consequences.
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