A 14-year-old girl was reportedly abandoned in a dirty home 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 noticed a young girl outside, alone and unsteady. Law enforcement responded to the scene and discovered the teenager, who complained of feeling dizzy and having stomach issues. She was subsequently hospitalized, revealing to authorities that she had been deserted at home with seven dogs since February, not having seen her parents since October 31.
The girl disclosed that the couple relocated from Alabama to Pensacola, Florida, abandoning her in unsanitary and appalling living conditions. She resided with seven dogs in a mobile home severely contaminated with waste, insects, and refuse, as per the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Tragically, one of the dogs was found deceased in a closet.
In a heartbreaking discovery, police found a note penned by the girl expressing her mother’s repeated failure to pick her up, with the note showing 87 marks. During her hospital stay, the girl communicated mostly with her parents via Snapchat, receiving food deliveries from her mother.
The teen mentioned being left behind because she refused to part with her service animals, although the status of the dogs as service animals remains unclear. Pertilla and Medrano face charges of child abuse and animal cruelty following their apprehension by authorities.
Sheriff Paul Burch of Mobile County commended the swift assistance provided by the store employees in aiding the teenage girl. He emphasized the importance of reporting concerning situations, as prompt action could be life-saving.
This incident follows another case where a 10-year-old child was reportedly abandoned at an airport while his parents departed on vacation due to passport issues. An airport staff member at Barcelona–El Prat Airport recounted the child being left alone in the public terminal while his parents boarded an international flight during the summer.