A 14-year-old girl was reportedly abandoned in a dirty house with pets while her mother and stepfather were absent for almost a year. Marchelle Lynn Pertilla and Eugene Medrano were taken into custody after witnesses at a store saw the young girl outside alone, feeling unwell and in pain. She explained to the authorities that she had been left alone in the home since February, without any contact with her parents since October 31.
According to reports, the girl stated that her parents relocated from Alabama to Florida, leaving her in poor living conditions with seven dogs in a mobile home filled with waste, bugs, and trash. Tragically, one of the dogs was found deceased in a closet. Police discovered a note written by the girl expressing her frustration at her mother’s unfulfilled promises.
During her hospital stay, the girl revealed that she communicated with her parents mainly through Snapchat, and her mother sent food using delivery services. She mentioned that she was left behind because she refused to abandon her service animals, though it is uncertain if any of the dogs were indeed service animals. Pertilla and Medrano face charges of child abuse and animal cruelty following their arrest.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch commended the store employees for their swift action in helping the teenager and emphasized the importance of reporting suspicious situations to authorities. He urged the public to speak up if they witness concerning incidents, as it could save lives.
This incident follows a case where a 10-year-old child was reportedly deserted at an airport while his parents departed on vacation due to passport issues. An employee at Barcelona–El Prat Airport disclosed that the child was left alone at the terminal while his parents boarded a flight abroad earlier in the summer.