A Louisiana couple indicted on second-degree murder charges in the death of their severely autistic daughter who was discovered 'fused' to a sofa by her own excrement insisted that she never wanted to leave the couch.
Clay, 65, and Sheila Fletcher, 64, were arrested on Monday and indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder charges in the death of Lacey Fletcher, 36, whose emaciated body partly submerged in a hole in a couch at their home in January.
Speaking to law enforcement, the Fletchers allegedly insisted that it was Lacey who made the decision to remain on the couch for 12 years, NOLA.com reported.
They told investigators that their daughter, who had developed 'some degree of Asperger's syndrome of 9th grade when she started being home schooled,' would use the couch or a nearby towel as her bathroom.
A high school photo of Lacey Ellen Fletcher, 36, taken when she was 16. The coroner believes she was left on the couch for 12 years
Coroner Dr. Ewell Dewitt Bickham III, with the East Feliciana Parish Coroner's Office, said, that based on evidence, it looked as if Lacey had been on that couch for almost 12 years.
Bickham also told WAFB that medical records show that Lacey Fletcher did not have a primary care physician.
'In 2010, the parents went to the doctor's office without Lacey and asked his advice on what to do,' Bickham said. 'She is increasingly not wanting to leave the house, not wanting to leave the sofa, just totally recluse.'
Bickham said the doctor told her parents to bring their daughter to the hospital, yet she was never admitted and no treatment was provided.
'If you have anyone in your family, the message is if you have anyone in your family with a mental health condition or a disability, get help,' Bickham added.
In the horrific scene discovered on January 3, Lacey's emaciated body was found partially naked, sitting upright and partly submerged in a hole in a couch covered from head to toe in urine, liquid feces, maggots and insect bites at her parents' otherwise neat single family home in Slaughter, Louisiana.
'Opened the door, walked into the house, there was a stench, an odor, feces, fecal material, urine, you couldn't hold your breath,' Bickham said, WAFB reported.
Her feet were crossed underneath her on the couch deep inside the hole that her long-suffering body had worn through both the upholstery and cushion.
Lacey had fecal matter shoved on her face, chest and abdomen. Her hair was matted, knotted and filled with maggots – and she weighed less than 100lbs.
'I have been a sheriff for six years, and I have had a lot of things happen here in East Feliciana Parish, but this type of scene, this is by far the worst,' Sheriff Jeffery Travis said.
The Fletchers were arrested Monday and then indicted on second-degree murder charges. A trial date has not yet been set.
Sheila Fletcher, 64, (pictured) and Clay Fletcher, 65, were arrested Monday and indicted on second-degree murder charges for the death of their daughter, Lacey, 36.
Clay Fletcher, 65, was arrested alongside his wife Sheila on Monday afternoon
Bickham told DailyMail.com Monday that the images of the conditions Lacey was found in were so horrific and upsetting that medics would be on standby for the members of the jury.
He added that the photos of the scene left those in the room speechless.
'The father was completely emotionless, the mother's head was lying down on, between her legs, she was weeping a little bit,' he added.
'When I was presenting the case and showed the pictures and gave the timeline the expressions of the grand jury was utter shock,' he said. 'Like the clock on the wall never moved again.'
'There was complete silence. Some jurors were gasping in horror. Some were staring in disbelief.'
Bickham also told the DailyMail.com that the case has been really hard on him personally and described Monday's grand jury proceedings as 'long emotional day.'
'Seeing those photos again and reliving this traumatic experience again was really hard.'
Outside the court, District Attorney D'Aquilla said: 'I believe justice was served here today. Lacey Fletcher didn't deserve the way she was treated.
'For this type of crime… second degree is the highest charge that could have been produced today.'
'Evidence wise, a minimum of 12 years,' he said. 'Could be before that. At least 12 years. A terribly long period of time.'
Clay Fletcher, 65, and Shiela Fletcher, 64, were indicted on second-degree murder charges for their daughter Lacey Ellen Fletcher's death
A photo of the two-story home located on Tom Drive in Slaughter, Louisiana where Lacey lived with her parents
The coroner also revealed the full horrific cause of death.
He said: 'The cause of death stemmed from severe medical neglect, which led to chronic malnutrition, acute starvation, immobility, acute ulcer formation, osteomyelitis which is bone infection which led finally to sepsis.'
Dr Bickham also cleared up a misunderstanding about Lacey's actual condition, originally reported as 'Locked-In' Syndrome.
He said: 'I don't know where that term came from or what source it came from. In all my years as a practicing physician I have never heard of that term.
'The only diagnoses that I know she did have was first, social anxiety, severe autism and that's it. Those are her only two diagnoses.
'The last time she saw a physician of any type or any kind was when she was 16 years
