It seemed like a quiet summer night in Evansville, Indiana, but by dawn, neighbors were stunned by what they found. A tiny child, still in diapers, was spotted wandering the street. The little girl was terrified, crying out for her mother in the early hours of the morning. But what police later uncovered inside the home left the community both shaken and outraged.
Around 5 a.m. on July 5, an Indiana resident awoke to barking dogs and looked out her window to see a 1-year-old girl walking alone in the street. The toddler, whose diaper was soaked, was reportedly calling for her mother as she stumbled down the road. The neighbor quickly rushed outside, brought the child to safety, and called 911.
First responders arrived on the scene and traced the child back to her home on Stevens Avenue. However, they didn’t find a parent waiting. Instead, they discovered a 16-year-old girl and her 15-year-old friend inside the house. Neither teen seemed capable of caring for a toddler, especially given what came next.
Indiana police say the older daughter had been left in charge after their mother, 42-year-old Ashley Ellis, allegedly handed the teens a bottle of vodka before leaving the home. The girls admitted to drinking shots of alcohol. According to Law & Crime reports, this led to one of them falling ill and being transported to the hospital after suffering what appeared to be a seizure.
Teens Left Drinking While Toddler Cried
Shockingly, Ellis’s younger child had been left in the same home. This was reportedly unknown to the visiting friend until the toddler began crying in the middle of the night. Authorities believe the toddler was outside for nearly half an hour before being rescued by the neighbor.
Investigators tried repeatedly to contact Ellis after the incident, but she reportedly could not be reached for two days. When she finally spoke with the police, she admitted she had only planned to be away for a few hours. But stated that she “panicked” once she learned what happened. Authorities say she refused to take a drug test.
Ellis is now being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail on charges of neglect of a dependent and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bond has been set at $750, and she is expected to make her first court appearance on Friday afternoon.
“What a thoughtful mom!” one reader snarked.
“The “mother” is irresponsible and needs to get sober/clean and learn some parenting skills if she is even capable after justice is served,” added another angry parent.
Thankfully, the neighbor’s quick action to save a child spiraled into a disturbing case. Still, it raises alarming questions about judgment and safety. This is a frightening tale where an Indiana toddler was left alone to wander the streets, and teenagers were allegedly encouraged to drink. This case has left many in the community unsettled and wondering how close this night came to ending in tragedy.
Hunter Spears 
Sabrina Russell 
