A 22-month-old boy from Indiana was found dead in what authorities described as a “significant state of decomposition,” and his mother has been charged with neglect.
Sophie Igou, 28, of Shelbyville, faces two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, along with three additional counts of neglect of a dependent, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE. Her bond has been set at $2 million.
Igou reportedly called 911 around 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 17, claiming she had discovered her youngest child, Jasper, unresponsive and cold to the touch, per an affidavit obtained by IndyStar, WTHR, and Fox 59. Minutes later, officers found her in the driveway outside her trailer holding the toddler wrapped in a sheet.
Although Igou told dispatchers she had just discovered her son, police noted that Jasper’s body was in a “significant state of decomposition” and appeared to have been deceased for an extended period. Detectives observed that the child was “extremely malnourished,” with bones visible beneath his skin and a “near-complete absence of subcutaneous fat,” according to the affidavit.
Investigators also found “decomposing material” in a crib inside the home, believed to be remnants of the child’s body. The residence itself was described as hoarded, littered with garbage, insect-infested, and “entirely unsafe/unhealthy as a domicile for human beings, let alone small children,” per the documents.
Detectives reported that Igou “appeared to act surprised” when informed that Jasper had been dead for some time prior to her 911 call. “When confronted with the condition of Jasper’s body, Sophie stated, ‘Did I do this?’” one report said. Another officer noted hearing her ask, “Am I going to jail now?”
Igou’s two other children, ages 4 and 8, were placed in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services.
In an interview at Shelbyville Police Headquarters, Igou told detectives that her children had lived with her full-time since her ex-husband moved out in November 2024. She said Jasper had recently struggled to keep food down but admitted she had not taken him to a doctor because she was “trying to get her bearings as a single mom,” according to the outlets.
Court documents indicate that Jasper had not received medical care since January 2024. A Sept. 19 autopsy cited by detectives revealed the toddler weighed just 14 pounds at the time of his death — only four pounds more than at his 2024 doctor’s appointment. The Shelby County Coroner’s Office said the cause of death will be finalized in the coming weeks.
Igou also faces a felony count of neglect of a dependent because her eldest child was allegedly not enrolled in school, according to court records.
