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 dead. The young girl was found wandering a road, complaining of stomach pain and dizziness. The mother and stepfather have been arrested on charges of child neglect.
Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and Eugene Medrano, 52, are facing allegations of child abuse. Pertilla is also accused of six counts of second-degree dog cruelty, while Medrano faces five counts of the same charge, as reported by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.
The 14-year-old girl was spotted by an employee at a Dollar General store, who alerted the authorities due to her alarming appearance. She disclosed that she had been living alone in the mobile home since February 2025.
Police investigations revealed that while the girl received food and supplies via deliveries from her mother, she was living in deplorable conditions. The trailer was described as filthy, with a dead dog found in a closet, and covered in urine, feces, insects, and trash.
Upon questioning, the mother stated that the girl chose to stay with her service animals. Three dogs were found outside, three inside, and one deceased in a closet. The couple visited the girl in the hospital and were subsequently charged.
Sheriff Paul Burch expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing the emotional impact on the child. A handwritten note in the girl’s room with 87 dash marks indicated numerous instances where she wished her mother would pick her up, highlighting the emotional distress she endured.
The sheriff described the situation as a form of emotional abuse, noting the profound impact on a child of that age. Investigations are ongoing to determine why the girl was left alone and whether others attempted to intervene by contacting law enforcement.