EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A 4-year-old girl was found running alone through a hotel parking garage after allegedly escaping from the room where she had been staying with her mother, according to police and court records.
The child, who authorities said is nonverbal and autistic, was discovered on June 3 after Evansville police responded to a report of a young girl wandering around the parking garage of a local hotel.
Officers eventually determined that the girl had been staying in a hotel room with her mother, 21-year-old Isabella Nadine Bertinelli.
Investigators said the child had managed to get out of the room before making her way into the parking garage alone.
The circumstances immediately raised concerns about how the child had been supervised and why she was able to leave the room unnoticed.
Police Say Mother Was Asleep on Couch
According to a probable cause affidavit cited by a local news outlet, officers brought the child back to the hotel room after finding her.
Police allegedly found Bertinelli asleep on a couch inside the room. The investigation later uncovered another troubling statement allegedly made by Bertinelli.
Investigators said her boyfriend had asked what she believed could happen to the child. According to authorities, Bertinelli allegedly responded, “She will be dead.”
Police cited the statement as part of the evidence gathered during the investigation into the child’s care. The case also raised questions about what was happening inside the hotel room while the young girl was there.
Police Investigate Activity Inside Hotel Room
Authorities reportedly accused Bertinelli of engaging in sex work inside the hotel room, including allegedly soliciting customers and allowing multiple people into the room.
Investigators said it was unclear who, if anyone, was responsible for supervising the 4-year-old during those alleged encounters. The concerns surrounding the child’s safety eventually led the Department of Child Services to remove her from Bertinelli’s care.
Authorities placed the child in the care of her father following the preliminary investigation. The case continued to develop as investigators examined other evidence related to Bertinelli’s behavior and possible drug use.
Investigators Say Mom Tried to Use Water for Drug Test
A forensic examination of Bertinelli’s cellphone reportedly revealed that she had searched online in late June for ways to obtain drugs, including methamphetamine and ecstasy, according to investigators.
Authorities later conducted a drug test as part of the investigation. Police allege Bertinelli attempted to avoid providing an actual urine sample by submitting water instead.
When detectives questioned her about the sample, she reportedly admitted that she had used water because she had been smoking marijuana.
The alleged attempt to manipulate the drug test became another part of the investigation as authorities continued examining the circumstances surrounding the child’s care.
Indiana Mom Arrested on Felony Neglect Charge
Following the investigation, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Bertinelli. She was taken into custody Monday and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to court records.
Bertinelli faces one count of felony neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury in connection with the case. She was later released after posting a $1,000 cash bond, records show.
The allegations against Bertinelli remain allegations, and the criminal case is ongoing. The charges will have to be addressed through the court process.
For investigators, the case began with a 4-year-old child found alone in a hotel parking garage. It has since expanded into a broader investigation involving the girl’s supervision, activity inside the hotel room and allegations surrounding drug use.
The child has been removed from Bertinelli’s care and placed with her father while the case moves forward.
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