A couple has been 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 found deceased. The teenager was found wandering down a road, complaining of stomach pains and dizziness, prompting the arrest of her mother and stepfather on charges of child neglect.
Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and Eugene Medrano, 52, are facing accusations of child abuse. Pertilla is also charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to dogs, while Medrano faces five counts of the same charges, as reported by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.
The incident came to light when an employee at a Dollar General store noticed the distressed 14-year-old and alerted the authorities. The girl disclosed that she had been living alone in the mobile home since February 2025, receiving occasional food and supplies deliveries from her mother, although the living conditions were deplorable.
Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered the trailer covered in filth, with urine, feces, insects, and trash strewn throughout the premises. Additionally, a deceased dog was found in a closet. The teenager revealed that her mother and stepfather were residing in Florida while she was left alone in Alabama.
The couple was apprehended after visiting the girl in the hospital. The mother justified leaving the girl alone by stating that she did not want to leave her service animals. The authorities found three dogs outside, three inside the trailer, and one deceased in the closet.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch expressed concerns over the situation, emphasizing the emotional toll on the child. He highlighted a distressing note found in the girl’s room with repeated marks indicating her desire for her mother’s return. Sheriff Burch condemned the abandonment as a form of emotional abuse, emphasizing the impact on a child of that age.
The investigation continues to uncover more details surrounding the circumstances of the young girl’s isolation and whether others had reported the situation to law enforcement.