Authorities in Alabama have charged a mother and stepfather with child abuse and animal cruelty after they allegedly moved to another state, abandoning their 14-year-old daughter to live alone in a squalid mobile home for almost a year.
A Disturbing Discovery at a Dollar General
The case came to light on Sunday, 4 January 2026, when employees at a Dollar General store in Mobile County noticed a teenage girl stumbling outside. Deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff's Office responded and found the girl suffering from dizziness and stomach pains. She was immediately taken to hospital for treatment.
During her hospital stay, the teenager spoke with detectives. She revealed that she had been living by herself since February 2024. Her mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, and stepfather, Eugene Medrano, had moved approximately an hour away to Pensacola, Florida, leaving her behind. The girl stated the last time she saw her parents was on Halloween.
Life Alone in Deplorable Conditions
On Monday, 5 January, investigators executed a search warrant at the girl's mobile home. What they found was described as deplorable. The property was filled with urine, faeces, rubbish, and cockroaches. The teenager had been sharing the space with the family's seven dogs. Tragically, one of the dogs was discovered dead in a closet.
When the girl needed food, her mother allegedly arranged deliveries via DoorDash or Walmart. Communication was primarily through Snapchat. A poignant piece of evidence was discovered during the search: a handwritten note titled "How many times mom tells me that she can't pick me up!" The note contained 87 tally marks, documenting the repeated rejections.
Arrests and Charges Filed
Investigators located Pertilla and Medrano in Pensacola. When questioned, Pertilla reportedly claimed they left the girl because she did not want to leave her service dogs and move. The status of the dogs as genuine service animals remains unclear.
Both individuals were arrested and charged with child abuse and animal cruelty. They were booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch praised the vigilance of the Dollar General employees, stating their actions may have saved the girl's life. "Thank goodness for the employee with Dollar General who contacted the county, and we were able to respond," Sheriff Burch said. "If you see something, say something. It could mean the difference between life or death."
