Eight Mile, Alabama – A mother and stepfather have been arrested in Mobile County after authorities say their 14-year-old daughter was left to live alone for months in a severely unsanitary home filled with animals, including one dog found dead inside a closet. The case came to light after the teen was seen stumbling along a road near a Dollar General store and was later hospitalized.
Teen Found Wandering Near Store, Taken to Hospital
According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on Jan. 4 after Dollar General employees reported seeing a teenage girl stumbling down the road in front of the store. Deputies responded and located the girl, who complained of dizziness and stomach pain.
She was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. While there, detectives interviewed the teen and uncovered disturbing details about her living conditions, according to reports from PEOPLE and local outlets.
Teen Says She Was Left Alone for Nearly a Year
During the hospital interview, the girl told investigators she had been living alone in her Eight Mile mobile home with several dogs since around February of last year. She said she had not seen her mother, Marchelle Lynn Pertilla, or her stepfather, Eugene Medrano, since Oct. 31.
The teen claimed the couple had moved to Pensacola, Florida, without her and that their primary communication occurred through the social media app Snapchat. She told detectives her mother occasionally sent food through DoorDash or Walmart deliveries, according to KOLD.
Search of Home Reveals Extreme Conditions
The following day, deputies executed a search warrant at the home alongside Prichard Animal Control. Inside, officers described overwhelming conditions, including floors and surfaces covered in urine, feces, roaches, and trash.
Investigators found one dog dead inside a closet and six other dogs living on the property. The surviving animals were removed by Prichard Animal Control, according to WALA and WKRG.
Disturbing Note Found Inside Home
While searching the residence, detectives discovered a handwritten note believed to belong to the teenager. The note was titled “How many times mom tells me that she can’t pick me up!” and contained 87 tally marks, according to investigators cited by local outlets.
Authorities say the note is now part of the ongoing investigation into potential neglect and abuse.
Parents Arrested and Charged
After locating Pertilla and Medrano, detectives questioned the couple about the allegations. Pertilla reportedly told investigators the teen was left alone because she refused to leave her dogs, which she claimed were service animals. Authorities said it remains unclear whether any of the dogs were actually service animals.
Both adults were arrested and charged with child abuse and animal cruelty. They were transported to the Mobile County Metro Jail, where they remain in custody.
Sheriff Praises Store Employee for Reporting Teen
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said the case may not have been discovered without the intervention of the Dollar General employee who called authorities.
“We are continuing to search for answers on why this young girl was living alone and whether or not others tried calling law enforcement,” Burch said in a statement shared with KOLD and WALA.
“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.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the teen’s isolation and living conditions.
