The father of36-year-old Lacey Fletcher, whose dead body was found “melted” into a maggot-infested couch, claimed the sofa was his daughter’s “comfort” in the lead up to her death.Clay Fletcher, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison — with 20 suspended — along with his wife, Sheila, made the claim at his sentencing hearing Wednesday,WBRZreported.“Her world closed in on her gradually because of her phobias, fears, and social anxieties,” Clay Fletcher said, according to the outlet. “The couch was her sanctuary. It was her comfort zone.”Lacey was found dead in her parents’ Louisiana home in January 2022. Sheila and Clay previously pleaded no contest to manslaughter, according to WBRZ,WAFBandThe Advocate.Her body was found with “ulcers on her underside and fecal matter crushed into her face, chest and abdomen,”The Advocatereported, citing court documents.Lacey Fletcher.Both parents cried at their hearing, saying they could have done more to change the outcome of Lacey’s death, per the outlet.WBRZ andThe Advocateboth reported that Lacey had previously been diagnosed with autism, and according to testimony Wednesday, her fears were so bad that she refused to leave the home.The Advocatereported prosecutors argued that Lacey’s mental state meant she was unable to make the decision to refuse medical treatment, which Clay and Sheila had reportedly claimed, per WBRZ.Clay and Sheila Fletcher.East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s OfficeWant to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.The outlets reported that at the time of her death, Lacey weighed 96 pounds and had tested positive for COVID-19.“We can argue about whether or not this process took three months, six months or three years. I don’t really care,” Judge Kathryn Jones before announcing their sentence, according toThe Advocate. “This was a tragedy. The truth is that Lacey laid on a couch and slowly died because she got no medical or mental health care.“The parents will have to serve 5 years probation after their release from prison, according to WAFB.
The father of36-year-old Lacey Fletcher, whose dead body was found “melted” into a maggot-infested couch, claimed the sofa was his daughter’s “comfort” in the lead up to her death.
Clay Fletcher, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison — with 20 suspended — along with his wife, Sheila, made the claim at his sentencing hearing Wednesday,WBRZreported.
“Her world closed in on her gradually because of her phobias, fears, and social anxieties,” Clay Fletcher said, according to the outlet. “The couch was her sanctuary. It was her comfort zone.”
Lacey was found dead in her parents’ Louisiana home in January 2022. Sheila and Clay previously pleaded no contest to manslaughter, according to WBRZ,WAFBandThe Advocate.Her body was found with “ulcers on her underside and fecal matter crushed into her face, chest and abdomen,”The Advocatereported, citing court documents.
Lacey Fletcher.
Both parents cried at their hearing, saying they could have done more to change the outcome of Lacey’s death, per the outlet.
WBRZ andThe Advocateboth reported that Lacey had previously been diagnosed with autism, and according to testimony Wednesday, her fears were so bad that she refused to leave the home.
The Advocatereported prosecutors argued that Lacey’s mental state meant she was unable to make the decision to refuse medical treatment, which Clay and Sheila had reportedly claimed, per WBRZ.
Clay and Sheila Fletcher.East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office
East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The outlets reported that at the time of her death, Lacey weighed 96 pounds and had tested positive for COVID-19.
“We can argue about whether or not this process took three months, six months or three years. I don’t really care,” Judge Kathryn Jones before announcing their sentence, according toThe Advocate. “This was a tragedy. The truth is that Lacey laid on a couch and slowly died because she got no medical or mental health care.”
The parents will have to serve 5 years probation after their release from prison, according to WAFB.
source: people.com
