Sheila and Clay Fletcher, a couple from Louisiana, have been re-indicted on murder charges after their 36-year-old daughter, Lacey Ellen Fletcher, was found dead on their family couch.
Lacey had been sitting on the couch for up to 12 years, and her body had “melted” into the piece of furniture. The couple was initially arrested in January 2022 and indicted on charges of second-degree murder, but the charges were dismissed by District Judge Kathryn “Betsy” Jones last month due to technical issues with the charging affidavits. However, the Fletchers were rearrested on June 19 and indicted again by a grand jury on murder charges.
“We will ensure there is justice for Lacey and the public knows that caregivers will be charged for neglecting or abusing a person in their care,” said District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla in a statement. The Fletchers have maintained their innocence, claiming that Lacey was “of sound mind” and refused to leave the living room, where they said they brought her meals and set up a potty.
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Lacey was diagnosed with social anxiety and had a history of severe Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder, which leaves people with maladjusted social skills.
June 28, 2023
She may have sat in her own filth for about 12 years, and her body was covered in maggots and sores, with ulcers on her underside and fecal matter on her face, chest, and abdomen.
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She weighed a skeletal 96 pounds and also tested positive for COVID-19 after she was found. Lacey also suffered from locked-in syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of voluntary muscles, except for the eyes.
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The coroner described Lacey’s death as a case of “acute medical neglect,” and the Fletchers were indicted on charges of second-degree murder. However, their lawyers objected to what they called defective language in the charging affidavits, and the charges were dismissed.
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The DA is believed to have tweaked the indictments by removing language from state law about cruelty to the infirm, which is not an inclusive charge to second-degree murder.
The Fletchers, who have been out on bail, are expected to be tried later this year. The case has shocked the public and raised questions about the care of vulnerable individuals.
The authorities have emphasized that caregivers will be charged for neglecting or abusing a person in their care, and justice will be served for Lacey.
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