Dollar General employee speaks out about neglected 14-year-old living alone
Video above: ‘News 5 Now’ – Most Read News from January 8, 2026
UPDATE (18:00): News 5 is hearing from the Dollar General employee whose 911 call led deputies to reveal that a 14-year-old girl had been neglected for months.
Jessica Smitherman said she called for help after seeing the girl stumbling in front of the store.
“He looked like he hadn’t bathed; he had dog hair all over his clothes. He smelled really bad. So I knew he needed some kind of help,” Smitherman said.
The girl was taken to the hospital, where investigators learned she had been living alone in a mobile home for months, deputies said. Sheriff Paul Burch described the conditions deputies found inside.
“The condition of the mobile home was deplorable and not a situation that any human being, or even any animal, should experience,” Burch said.
Investigators say they also found a handwritten note titled “How many times did my mom tell me she couldn’t handle me” with 87 points on it.
“Which leads us to believe that he asked for his mother to come back at least 87 times. But he didn’t,” Burch said.
Smitherman says it’s up to him.
“It breaks my heart that he’s in this situation. I wish he had come to me sooner,” Smitherman said.
The girl’s mother and stepfather are now accused of child abuse and animal cruelty.
“I can’t imagine the emotional part of knowing your mom and dad are going to leave you to fend for yourself,” Burch said.
Authorities say the teen is safe and in foster care.
“He’s still young enough to get over this and have a good life,” Smitherman said.
PREVIOUS REPORTING:
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man and woman after a 14-year-old girl was found living alone with multiple dogs.
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Deputies were called to the Dollar General on Jarrett Road on Jan. 4 after a girl complained of dizziness and stomach pain when a store employee saw her stumbling down the road, MCSO said.
The girl was taken to the hospital for evaluation while detectives and the Child Advocacy Center interviewed her, authorities said.
The girl allegedly said she had been living alone with her dogs in a mobile home on Jarrett Road since February 2025 and that she last saw her mother and stepfather on October 31, 2025.
The girl’s mother, Marchelle Pertilla, 43, and her stepfather, Eugene Medrano, 52, were living and working in Pensacola, according to the girl.
Pertilla would send the girl the food via DoorDash or Walmart deliveries, authorities said.
Mugshots of Marchelle Pertilla (left) and Eugene Medrano (right) (Mobile County Sheriff’s Office)
Pertilla and Medrano arrived at the hospital and were interviewed by detectives before being arrested.
“When asked why her daughters were left alone, the mother stated that the cub did not want to be separated from her service animals,” the statement said.
Authorities said that a search warrant was issued for the caravan on January 5, and they found that the caravan was covered with urine, feces, cockroaches, garbage and various items.
Detectives, along with Prichard Animal Control, found seven dogs on the property; Four of them were found dead inside and one was found dead in a closet.
Detectives also found a handwritten letter in the girl’s sleeping area titled “How many times did my mother tell me she couldn’t handle me” and had 87 dashes on the page, the statement said.
“We continue to seek answers as to why this young girl was living alone and whether others attempted to call law enforcement,” Sheriff Paul Burch said.
“Thank goodness for the Dollar General employee who contacted the county, we were able to respond. If you see something, say something; it could mean the difference between life and death.”
Pertilla was charged with one count of child abuse, one count of aggravated cruelty to animals and six counts of second-degree canine cruelty.
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Medrano was charged with one count of child abuse, one count of aggravated cruelty to animals and five counts of second-degree canine cruelty.
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