Parents charged with murder in death of daughter found dead 'melted' into couch and covered in feces

UPDATE (5/2/2022) -- The parents of a 36-year-old woman who was found dead in a sunken couch covered in feces have been indicted by a grand jury for second-degree murder.

According to WBRZ-TV, Sheila and Clay Fletcher were both charged with second-degree murder in connection with their daughter Lacey's death. They were reportedly booked into the East Feliciana Parish Jail after turning themselves in.

EAST FELICIANA PARISH, La. (TCD) -- A grand jury will decide if the parents of a woman who was found dead after being severely neglected will face charges.

According to WAFB-TV, on Jan. 3, first responders were called out to a house in Slaughter after receiving a report that 36-year-old Lacey Fletcher had died. East Feliciana Parish Coroner Dr. Ewell Bickham III arrived at the scene and saw what he called "the worst form of medical neglect I’ve ever seen."

Bickham reportedly found Fletcher dead on a sunken couch that was covered in feces. He told WAFB the house "smelled of feces [and] fecal matter" and when he saw the victim, she "was basically sitting in a hole, filled with liquid stool and urine."

Twentieth Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla described Fletcher as being "melted" into the sofa, according to WBRZ-TV. She reportedly weighed 96 pounds at the time of her death.

Bickham said to WAFB, "I’ve never seen anything like this that literally turned my stomach as bad as it did. It literally got me emotional, and I’m a strong person."

According to WBRZ, Fletcher’s entire body was reportedly covered in feces and bugs. Investigators reportedly said the sofa acted as a "latrine" and that the fabric essentially disintegrated.

WAFB reports the Jefferson Parish Forensic Center ruled Fletcher’s a homicide as a result of "at least a decade of medical neglect."

Bickham said, "I couldn’t eat for a week. I cried for a week."

Fletcher’s parents reportedly believed she was autistic and suffered severe social anxiety, according to NOLA.com.

The grand jury will reportedly make the decision about any potential charges Monday, May 2.

MORE:

• Grand jury to decide parents’ fate after coroner finds daughter’s body sitting on couch with feces around it - WAFB
• Coroner found woman 'melted' into couch after she disappeared for a decade; grand jury weighing charges for her parents - WBRZ
• After 'horrific' death at home, parents of Louisiana woman may soon face murder charges - NOLA.com