A couple was taken into custody following the discovery of their 14-year-old daughter living in unsanitary conditions in a caravan along with seven dogs, one of which was found dead. The teenager was found wandering a road complaining of stomach pain and dizziness, leading to the arrest of her mother and stepfather on charges of child neglect.
Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and Eugene Medrano, 52, are facing allegations of child abuse, with Pertilla also charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to dogs, while Medrano faces five counts of the same charge according to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.
After being noticed by an employee at a Dollar General store, the girl was taken to a hospital where she revealed that she had been living alone in the mobile home since February 2025. Although her mother reportedly sent supplies to her, the living conditions were deplorable, with filth, insects, and a deceased dog found in the trailer.
During investigations, it was discovered that the mother and stepfather were residing in Florida while the girl was left alone in Alabama. The couple visited the girl in the hospital where the mother claimed the girl did not want to leave her service animals. Law enforcement found evidence of neglect and emotional abuse, including a distressing handwritten note in the girl’s room.
Sheriff Paul Burch expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing the emotional impact on a child being left to fend for themselves. Investigations are ongoing to determine why the girl was left alone and if others attempted to intervene by contacting authorities.
