An Indiana toddler was already in a state of decomposition when first responders found him earlier this month, as reported by officials on Monday.
On September 17, Shelbyville police officers arrived at Sophie Igou’s home and found her on the driveway with her 22-month-old son, who had died. Igou mentioned to a 911 dispatcher that she realized her son was cold, but police observed that the child had been deceased for some time, as reported by the Indianapolis Star.
In their search of the toddler’s crib, police found decomposed materials, which they assumed included parts of his body. Investigators also observed that the baby was notably malnourished, with visible bones.
An autopsy revealed that Igou’s son weighed just 14 pounds. Despite police suspecting the child had been dead for a while, Igou claimed he suffered from food retention issues and had vomited earlier that day, as per WTHR.
According to police, Igou seemed shocked when informed that her son had likely been dead for a significant duration before her 911 call. When questioned about Jasper’s condition, she responded, ‘Did I do this?” as documented by WTTK.
Igou stated she was a single mother of three, having separated from her husband in November 2024, though they maintained regular contact concerning their children.
Police claimed that Igou’s home was in disarray, as it was infested with insects and littered with trash, according to the Indianapolis Star.
WTHR reported that Igou’s ex-husband had not seen the children in five weeks. Their two surviving children, ages 4 and 8, are currently with the Department of Child Services.
Igou was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent. Her bond was set at $2 million.
The Shelby County Coroner’s Office said the toddler’s cause and manner of death will be finalized in the following weeks. It is unclear whether Igou will face upgraded charges after the full autopsy is completed.
[Feature Photo: Shelbyville police]
