Inset left to right: Ashley Bredhold, Brent Bredhold (Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office), and Alice Bredhold (Obituary). Background: the residence where Alice died from diabetes complications (Google Maps).
A mother and father in Indiana are behind bars and facing homicide charges related to the death of their diabetic daughter.
Alice Ruby Bredhold, 12, died on July 4.
On Aug. 7, Ashley Marie Bredhold, 38, and Brent Michael Bredhold, 38, were both arrested and booked on a charge of neglect of a dependent causing death, according to jail records maintained by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.
Alice was found dead on her bedroom floor at the family’s residence on South New York Avenue in Evansville, according to affidavits obtained by Evansville-based NBC affiliate WFIE.
An ensuing investigation determined the girl had diabetes but that her parents were not helping her maintain the lifelong disease.
The state’s Department of Child Services contacted the Bredhold family because of Alice’s blood sugar levels frequently testing high while she was at school, police allege.
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It is presently unclear, however, how long those blood sugar test results seem to have fallen by the wayside. Also unclear is how long the child welfare agency engaged with the family.
According to the Vanderburgh County Coroner, Alice died from diabetic ketosis — a serious condition which, according to the Mayo Clinic, will manifest numerous telltale symptoms.
Authorities eventually removed two other children from the Bredhold residence, police said. At the time, the house was allegedly full of garbage and insects.
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Alice attended Evans Elementary School where she played cello in the school’s orchestra, a tribute about the girl says. An avid reader, Alice was a member of a local book club. She was also a member of a youth team dedicated to the scientific exploration of rocks, fossils, and minerals.
“Alice was naturally artistic and creative, and enjoyed doing crafts and drawing,” her obituary reads. “She loved being with her family and spending time with friends. Alice will be remembered for her outgoing, energetic, and friendly spirit. She will be deeply missed.”
After a nearly monthlong investigation, police arrested the girl’s parents on warrants on Wednesday afternoon.
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Under Hoosier State law, the neglect charge is a felony of the first degree. This is because the parents are over the age of 18 and the girl was under the age of 14 when she died.
Both defendants are currently being detained on $100,000 bond in the Vanderburgh County Jail as of this writing. Their initial hearings are scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, Indiana court records show.
Law&Crime filed a public records request with the Evansville Police Department for additional documents related to this story.
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