Indiana Mom Charged With Felony Neglect After Autistic 4-Year-Old Found Alone in Parking Garage

Isabella Bertinelli, 21, faces felony neglect charges after her nonverbal autistic daughter escaped a hotel room in Evansville, Indiana, and was found wandering alone.

Indiana Mother Accused of Neglect After Toddler Escapes Hotel Room Alone

A 21-year-old Evansville mother is facing a felony neglect charge after her nonverbal, autistic 4-year-old daughter escaped their hotel room and was found running alone through a parking garage, Law & Crime reports.

Isabella Nadine Bertinelli was taken into custody Monday and charged with one count of felony neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, according to court records.

The case began June 3, when officers with the Evansville Police Department responded to a report of a young girl found alone in the parking garage of a local hotel. Investigators, citing a probable cause affidavit reviewed by NBC affiliate WFIE, determined the child had been staying in Bertinelli's room, escaped unnoticed, and wandered into the garage.

When officers returned the child to the room, they found Bertinelli asleep on a couch. Investigators later learned that Bertinelli's boyfriend had asked her what she thought might happen to the child if left unsupervised. She allegedly responded, "She will be dead."

Police also accused Bertinelli of engaging in sex work inside the room while the child was present — allegedly soliciting clients and allowing multiple people inside. It was not established who, if anyone, was responsible for watching the 4-year-old during those alleged encounters.

Following the preliminary investigation, the Department of Child Services removed the child from Bertinelli's care and placed her with her father.

A forensic examination of Bertinelli's cellphone revealed that in late June she had been searching online for ways to obtain methamphetamine and ecstasy. When subsequently asked to submit to a drug test, Bertinelli allegedly provided water instead of a urine sample. She later admitted to the substitution, telling detectives she had done so because she had been smoking marijuana.

Authorities then obtained a warrant for her arrest. Bertinelli was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on Monday and released after posting a $1,000 cash bond.

Source: Law & Crime