Louisiana parents plead guilty to manslaughter after leaving autistic daughter to die in her excrement
LOUSIANA: Parents of a Louisiana woman with special needs, who was discovered dead on the family couch, have entered a guilty plea to manslaughter.
On Monday, February 5, Shelia and Clay Fletcher entered a “no contest plea" to manslaughter in relation to the death of their 36-year-old daughter Lacey.
Lacey Fletcher found dead after parental neglect
The Fletchers' bond is set to expire on February 20. The judge noted their lack of prior criminal records, consistent attendance at scheduled court appearances, and assessed that they do not pose a threat to the community.
Advocate for victims Dana Lovett emphasized, "Justice is needed for Lacey." Following allegations of parental neglect by the prosecution, Lacey was tragically found deceased while sitting in urine and feces.
Investigators believe she was abandoned for at least a decade to wither away, Scoop Tour reported.
“Lacey’s not here to speak for herself. There’s just so many conflicting statements that I’ve heard in this case, and they had so many resources at their fingertips, especially Mrs. Fletcher,” Lovett said.
Following the issuance of new murder charges, the parents of the deceased daughter voluntarily surrendered themselves for detention. Dr Ewell Bickham, a former coroner for East Feliciana Parish, expressed concern, stating, "There are just so many unanswered questions."
He claimed that Lacey had severe autism and that her parents had long neglected her. He said, "She hadn’t seen any provider, any health care, anybody until I walked into that house when she was 36 years old, deceased."
Shelia and Clay Fletcher denied any wrongdoing
According to their defense lawyers, the Fletchers are described as decent individuals who do not pose a threat to the public, emphasizing that they had no intention of causing harm to Lacey.
Attorney Steven Moore claimed that the couple "loved their daughter to a fault."
"There’s no evidence that she was tortured, no evidence that she was fused to a couch or chained to the couch, and we’re going to put all that out there March the 20th," attorney John McLindon stated.
“We’re in disagreement to that. And we objected to that,” said East Feliciana District Attorney Samuel D’Aquilla. “It was a very heinous crime. And we request they be incarcerated.”
He is seeking a maximum 40-year prison term. The next court appearance is scheduled for March 20 at 9:30 am at the East Feliciana Courthouse.
"The Fletchers are pleading no contest to the new charges. They had no choice. This is an open and shut case - they allowed their daughter to suffer unbearably on that couch," D'Aquilla told the Daily Mail.
