A 14-year-old in Eight Mile, Alabama, was hospitalized after being found stumbling near a Dollar General on Jan. 4. She told detectives she had lived alone with several dogs since February and hadn’t seen her parents since Oct. 31. A search of her mobile home uncovered severe filth, a dead dog, six more dogs and a note with 87 tally marks. Her mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, and stepfather, Eugene Medrano, were arrested on child abuse and animal cruelty charges.
Alabama Mother And Stepfather Arrested After 14-Year-Old Found Living Alone In Squalid Mobile Home
Mobile County Metro Jail (2)Marchelle Lynn Pertilla; Eugene Medrano
A 14-year-old girl in Alabama was taken to a hospital after being found stumbling near a Dollar General on Jan. 4. Authorities say the teen told detectives she had been living alone in a mobile home in Eight Mile with several dogs since about February and had not seen her mother and stepfather since Oct. 31.
Mobile County Sheriff’s OfficeThe interior of the squalid Alabama home
Investigation And Home Search
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigators, working with Prichard Animal Control, executed a search warrant at the teenager’s mobile home the day after the hospital interview. Officers reported the interior was covered in urine, feces, roaches and trash. They found one dead dog in a closet and six additional live dogs that were removed by animal control.
Mobile County Sheriff’s OfficeThe exterior of the Alabama mobile home
Allegations And Arrests
Detectives located the teen’s mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, and her partner, Eugene Medrano, and questioned them about the situation. Pertilla allegedly told investigators that the teen had been left at home because she refused to leave her service animals; it was unclear whether any of the dogs had formal service-animal status. Both Pertilla and Medrano were arrested and booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail on charges that include child abuse and animal cruelty.
Mobile County Metro JailMarchelle Lynn Pertilla
“We are continuing to search for answers on why this young girl was living alone and whether or not others tried calling law enforcement,” Mobile County Sheriff Paul 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.”
Evidence From The Home
Investigators also discovered a handwritten note from the teenager headlined, “How many times mom tells me that she can’t pick me up!” which reportedly contained 87 tally marks. Local outlets that reported the case include WALA, WKRG and KOLD, citing the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office; People magazine reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment.
Mobile County Metro JailEugene Medrano
Resources
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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