MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) — A mother and stepfather have been charged with child abuse and animal cruelty after allegedly moving out of state and leaving their 14-year-old daughter behind.
WALA reports that a Dollar General employee called the police Jan. 4 because they saw the girl stumbling on the road in front of the store. When officers responded, the girl told them she was dizzy and had stomach pain.
WEAR reports that the employee, Jessica Smitherman, said the teen had clearly been living in squalor for some time and told her she did not know how to find her mother.
The child, who has not been named by authorities, was examined at a hospital and then interviewed by detectives. She told them her mother and stepfather had moved to Pensacola, Florida, nearly a year before and she had been living alone with seven dogs in a mobile home ever since.
She told detectives she mainly spoke with them through Snapchat and they delivered food to her through DoorDash and Walmart, according to WALA. She had reportedly not seen her mother and stepfather since Oct. 31, 2025.
Officers executed a search warrant at the home on Jan. 5 and found it filled with feces, urine, trash, and cockroaches. A dead dog was found in the closet and the other dogs were taken by animal control, WALA reports. Officers also found a letter written by the child that stated, “How many times mom tells she can’t pick me up!” with 87 marks next to it. According to WEAR, the child was reportedly homeschooled.
Detectives got in touch with the girl’s mother and stepfather, who told them they left her behind when they moved because she did not want to leave her service animals, WALA reports. It is unclear whether any of the dogs found were service animals.
Eugene Medrano and Merchelle Pertilla were arrested and charged with child abuse and animal cruelty and were taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail, WALA reports.
According to WEAR, two other children living with Pertilla and Medrano have been removed from their home.
WALA reports Medrano was released on bond totaling $55,000 on Jan. 9. Pertilla remains behind bars with bond totaling $75,000. Both are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 27, according to jail records obtained by the outlet.