Indiana Mother Charged After Toddler Found Dead in Decomposed State

Authorities in Shelbyville, Indiana, say a 22-month-old boy was discovered dead in a “significant state of decomposition,” and his mother has been charged with multiple counts of neglect.

Sophie Igou, 28, faces five felony charges, including two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Her bond has been set at $2 million.

Police reports state that on the night of September 17, Igou called 911 and said she found her youngest child, Jasper, unresponsive. When officers arrived, they encountered Igou outside her residence holding the toddler wrapped in a sheet. Despite her claim that she had just discovered him, investigators wrote that the child’s body showed clear signs he had been deceased for some time.

According to court documents, Jasper appeared severely malnourished, with visible bones and an absence of body fat. An autopsy later determined he weighed just 14 pounds at the time of his death — only four pounds more than his weight at a doctor’s visit in early 2024. Records also show he had not received medical care since January of that year.

Inside the home, police described conditions as hoarded, insect-infested, and unsafe for children. Investigators reported finding decomposing material inside a crib believed to have been used by Jasper.

Officers noted that Igou seemed shocked when told her son had been dead for some time. According to police, she asked, “Did I do this?” and later, “Am I going to jail now?”

Two other children in the home, ages 4 and 8, were removed and placed in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services.

During an interview with detectives, Igou reportedly admitted that Jasper had struggled to keep food down but said she had not sought medical care because she was adjusting to life as a single mother after separating from her husband.

In addition to the charges connected to Jasper’s death, Igou is also accused of neglect involving her oldest child, who investigators say was not enrolled in school.

The Shelby County Coroner’s Office said Jasper’s official cause of death will be released once additional testing is complete.

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