A couple was taken into custody following the discovery of their 14-year-old daughter living in unsanitary conditions in a caravan with seven dogs, one of which was deceased. The young girl was found wandering a road, complaining of stomach pains and dizziness, prompting her mother and stepfather’s arrest for alleged child neglect.
Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and Eugene Medrano, 52, are facing charges of child abuse. Pertilla is also accused of six counts of second-degree cruelty to dogs, while Medrano faces five counts of the same offense, as per the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.
After being spotted by an employee at a Dollar General store, the teenager was hospitalized, revealing that she had been living alone in the mobile home since February 2025. Although her mother reportedly sent food and supplies through deliveries, the living conditions were described as deplorable.
Authorities discovered the trailer covered in filth, with a deceased dog inside a wardrobe, alongside urine, feces, insects, and trash. The girl disclosed that her mother and stepfather were residing in Florida while she remained in Alabama.
Following investigations, the couple visited the teenager in the hospital and were subsequently charged. The sheriff’s office noted that the mother claimed the girl preferred to stay with her service animals. Further inspection revealed three dogs outside, three inside, and one deceased in a closet.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch expressed a commitment to uncovering why the girl was left alone and whether others had attempted to alert law enforcement. Additionally, a distressing handwritten note with 87 dash marks was found in the child’s room, indicating repeated pleas for her mother’s presence.
Burch emphasized the emotional toll on the child, stating that abandonment constituted not just physical but also emotional abuse. The neglect case has raised concerns about the impact on a vulnerable child left to fend for herself, highlighting the importance of safeguarding children’s welfare.
For any stories to share, please contact niamh.kirk@reachplc.com.