A mother and stepfather are facing child abuse charges after officials said they moved to Florida while leaving their 14-year-old daughter behind in Alabama to live by herself for nearly a year.
/Gray News) — A mother and stepfather are facing child abuse charges after officials said they moved to Florida while leaving their 14-year-old daughter behind in Alabama to live by herself for nearly a year.
According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the teenager was left to live alone with seven dogs in a mobile home covered in urine, feces, roaches and trash. Officials said one of the dogs was found dead in a closet. The parents are accused of moving an hour away to Pensacola, Florida, from their home in Mobile County last February. The investigation began on Sunday when employees of a Dollar General called police because they saw the girl stumbling down the road in front of the store.She was taken to the hospital for treatment, where she was interviewed by detectives. During the interview, the teen said that she had been living alone with her dogs in a mobile home since approximately February of last year — around the time of her 14Officials said the girl told them that her mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, and her stepfather, Eugene Medrano, moved to Pensacola and that the last time she saw them was Oct. 31. The child told authorities that communication with her parents was primarily through Snapchat, and her mother would send food via DoorDash or Walmart deliveries. On Monday, the sheriff’s office and Prichard Animal Control executed a search warrant at the home where the girl was living. Officials said the interior of the single-wide trailer was covered in urine, feces, roaches and trash. Seven dogs were found on the property, including one dog that was found dead inside a closet.Detectives also found a handwritten letter from the girl that was titled “How many times mom tells me that she can’t pick me up!” The letter reportedly had 87 tally marks on it.The sheriff’s office said that when Pertilla was asked why her daughter was left alone, she claimed it was because the girl did not want to leave her service animals. It’s unclear whether any of the dogs found at the residence were service dogs. The mother and stepfather were charged with child abuse and animal cruelty. They were taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail.“We are continuing to search for answers on why this young girl was living alone and whether or not others tried calling law enforcement,” Burch said. “Thank goodness for the employee with Dollar General who contacted the county, and we were able to respond. If you see something, say something. It could mean the difference between life or death.”Gov. Ivey to deliver final State of the State address Jan. 13Former State Rep. Howard Sanderford dies at 90City of Montgomery, Workforce Alabama to host Multi-Employer Job Fair
Alabama Pensacola Florida Parents Charged Child Abuse Daughter Teenager Living Alone Lived Alone Left Behind Parents Moved Left Child Behind Child Living Alone 14-Year-Old Young Girl Young Teenager Mobile Home Filth Dogs 7 Dogs Dead Dog Dollar General Mobile County Mobile County Sheriff's Office
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