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Alabama Teen Allegedly Abandoned by Parents, Left to Fend for Herself and Dogs
MOBILE COUNTY, AL – A shocking case of alleged child abandonment has come to light in Mobile County, where a 14-year-old girl was reportedly left to live alone for over a year with seven dogs in squalid conditions while her parents moved to Florida. The mother and stepfather are now facing serious charges of child abuse and animal cruelty.
According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were alerted to the dire situation on Sunday when concerned employees at a Dollar General store contacted police after observing the girl stumbling and appearing unwell. Responding officers found the teenager suffering from dizziness and stomach pains, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment and an interview.
During questioning, the girl revealed a harrowing tale of neglect. She stated that her mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, and stepfather, Eugene Medrano, had moved to Pensacola, Florida, an hour away, in February – around the time of her 14th birthday – leaving her stranded in their Alabama mobile home. The last time she saw her parents in person was Halloween.
The girl described the mobile home as being in deplorable condition, covered in urine, feces, roaches, and trash. Tragically, one of the seven dogs was discovered deceased in a closet.
Communication with her parents, she explained, was primarily through Snapchat, and her mother would occasionally send food deliveries via DoorDash or Walmart. However, a heartbreaking note found in the home, titled “How many times mom tells me she can’t pick me up!”, tallied 87 instances where her mother allegedly refused to take her to Pensacola.
On Monday, a joint investigation by the sheriff’s office and Prichard Animal Control led to the execution of a search warrant at the mobile home. The findings corroborated the girl’s account, with authorities confirming the unsanitary living conditions and recovering the remaining six dogs, which were then taken into the care of Prichard Animal Control.
Authorities successfully located Pertilla and Medrano and took them in for questioning. Pertilla claimed her daughter refused to move to Pensacola because she did not want to leave her “service dogs.” However, it remains unclear if the animals are indeed service animals.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch emphasized the critical role played by the Dollar General employees in potentially saving the girl’s life. “Thank goodness for the employee with Dollar General who contacted the county, and we were able to respond,” Sheriff Burch stated during a press briefing.
“If you see something, say something. It could mean the difference between life or death.”
Both Marchelle Lynn Pertilla and Eugene Medrano have been charged with child abuse and animal cruelty and are currently booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail.