A pair was taken into custody after their 14-year-old daughter was discovered living in poor conditions in a caravan on her own with seven dogs, including one deceased. The teenager was found walking down a road, complaining of stomach pains and dizziness, which led to the arrest of her mother and stepfather on charges of child neglect.

Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and Eugene Medrano, 52, are facing allegations of child abuse. Pertilla is also accused of six counts of second-degree cruelty towards dogs, while Medrano is charged with five counts of similar offenses, as reported by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.

The teenager was noticed by an employee at a Dollar General store, prompting a call to the authorities due to concerns about her well-being. Subsequently, she was hospitalized and revealed that she had been residing alone in the mobile home since February 2025.

Following investigations, authorities discovered that although the girl received food and supplies through deliveries from her mother, the living conditions were deplorable. The trailer was described as filthy, with a dead dog found in a wardrobe, and covered in urine, feces, insects, and trash.

Upon visiting the girl in the hospital, the couple was charged. The sheriff’s office mentioned that the mother claimed the juvenile did not want to be separated from her service animals. The investigation revealed three dogs outside, three inside, and one deceased in a closet.

Questions remain regarding why the young girl was left alone and whether others attempted to alert law enforcement, according to Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch. A handwritten note found in the child’s room indicated repeated requests for her mother to pick her up, suggesting emotional distress due to being left alone to fend for herself.