An East Feliciana Parish grand jury will hear the case against a Slaughter couple accused of extreme neglect in the death of their 36-year-old daughter. 20th Judicial District D.A. Sam D’Aquilla says Lacey Fletcher had developed a mental illness and became a shut-in; literally living on the couch in Clay and Sheila Fletcher’s home. He says she was found in early January – on that sofa – dead and in horrible conditions.
“He responded to the scene – the coroner. He called me immediately and called the sheriff immediately … and same ‘something needs to be done’, and we jumped right on it.”
The parish coroner reports Lacey was found lying on the couch, surrounded in her own bodily waste. D’Aquilla says she had become a recluse, and her parents seemingly did nothing to help…:
“From my understanding it progressively got worse, and she got to the point where she didn’t really come of of the house, or come out of a specific room in the house.”
He says Lacey had developed physical health issues, but had not been taken to or seen a doctor in many years.
The coroner described Lacey’s condition when she was found as being “melted into” the sofa; her body covered in sores and ulcers. D’Aquilla says the smell in the Fletcher’s living room was unbearable. He says the investigation led to considering that 2nd-degree murder charges against Clay and Sheila Fletcher were called for.
“We’re going to bring it to the grand jury and see what the grand jury decides. I’m not saying they wanted to kill her, or wanted her dead, but the type of neglect that was involved in a situation like this was just horrifying.”
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