A 14-year-old girl was reportedly abandoned by her mother and stepfather, leaving her alone in a dirty home with pets for almost a year. Marchelle Lynn Pertilla and Eugene Medrano were apprehended following a tip from store employees who saw the teenager unaccompanied and unwell outside their establishment. Police responded to the scene and discovered the girl, who complained of dizziness and stomach discomfort. She was taken to a hospital for medical attention, where she disclosed that she had been deserted in her residence with seven dogs since February, without contact from her guardians since October 31.
The adolescent revealed that the couple relocated from Alabama to Pensacola, Florida, and neglected her in unsanitary and appalling conditions, as reported by KBTX. She resided in a mobile home with seven dogs amidst filth, including feces, urine, roaches, and trash, with one deceased dog found in a closet by authorities.
During her hospital stay, the girl communicated mainly with her parents via Snapchat, and her mother sent food through delivery services. She claimed she was abandoned because she refused to leave her service animals, although it remains unclear if any of the dogs had that designation. Pertilla and Medrano face charges of child abuse and animal cruelty following their arrest.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch commended the vigilant store staff who assisted the distressed teenager, emphasizing the importance of reporting concerning situations promptly. The incident follows a separate case where a 10-year-old child was allegedly deserted at an airport while his parents departed for vacation due to passport issues.
An employee at Barcelona–El Prat Airport recounted how the child was left unattended at the public terminal while his parents boarded an international flight during the summer.