💔 THE CHILD WHO LIVED ALONE WITH SEVEN DOGS — A YEAR OF SILENCE, SURVIVAL, AND NEGLECT

Authorities in Mobile County, Alabama uncovered one of the most disturbing child‑neglect cases the community has ever seen. A 14‑year‑old girl was found living completely alone in a mobile home — surviving for nearly a year with seven dogs, no adult supervision, and conditions investigators described as “abhorrent.”

Deputies say the girl’s mother, Marchelle Pertilla, and stepfather, Eugene Medrano, had moved out of state, leaving the child behind to fend for herself. According to investigators, the couple relocated to Florida and never returned to check on her. The last time they reportedly saw her was months earlier, leaving the teen to survive in filth, isolation, and fear.

The truth came to light when a Dollar General employee noticed the girl stumbling, unbathed, and covered in dog hair. The worker said she immediately knew something was wrong and called 911 — a call that likely saved the child’s life.

When deputies entered the home, they found:

Seven dogs living inside the trailer

Dog feces and urine covering the floors

Trash piled throughout the home

One dog dead inside a closet

Investigators say the teen had been trying to survive on her own, caring for the dogs as best she could while living in conditions no child should ever endure. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and is now in protective care.

Pertilla and Medrano were arrested and charged with:

Child abuse

Aggravated animal cruelty

The case has sparked outrage across Alabama and beyond — not only because of the horrific conditions, but because a child was abandoned for nearly a year without anyone noticing.

This story is a reminder of how easily children can fall through the cracks when adults fail them. It is also a testament to the power of one person paying attention — because a store employee trusted her instincts, a child who had been suffering in silence finally received help.

— Quarla Blackwell