JURY TAKES ONLY 17 MINUTES TO RETURN GUILTY VERDICTS FOR NEGLECT RESULTING IN DEATH OF 12-YEAR-OLD DIABETIC GIRL

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. — Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that on February 20, 2026, Ashley M. Bredhold was found guilty of two counts of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, both Level 1 felonies, by a jury after only 17 minutes of deliberation. The Honorable Judge Ryan D. Hatfield of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court presided.

On July 4, 2024, EPD officers responded to a 911 call at 506 S. New York Ave. and discovered that Alice Bredhold, a 12-year-old girl with Type 1 diabetes, was recently deceased. The forensic pathologist determined that the cause of death was a life-threatening complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis. He also noted as contributors that the 12-year-old girl had a liver four times the normal size and a heart twice the normal size, both due to poorly controlled diabetes.

Alice had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in March 2020. While many kids with Type 1 diabetes live long, mostly normal lives by taking insulin, Alice passed away within 4 years of her diagnosis. At trial, medical professionals testified that the Defendant—her mom—had been educated for years that kids with Type 1 diabetes must be consistently managed with direct adult supervision or the disease could be fatal. Poorly controlled diabetes causes inflammation, organ damage, and weakening of the immune system, such that kids are at greater risk of deadly conditions and worse outcomes from those conditions. In fact, Alice had been hospitalized on multiple occasions for conditions related to her diabetes.

Additional investigation revealed that the Defendant had not personally checked to confirm that Alice had taken insulin in nearly 24 hours. Further, the Defendant had not set eyes on Alice at all for 16 hours from 1:00 am to 5:00 pm on July 4. Alice had been laying on the floor of her bedroom, non-responsive, during this time. When the Defendant finally saw Alice in person at 5:00 pm, she noticed that Alice was not waking up, clammy, and foaming at the mouth – but she did not call the doctor’s office or 911 to take Alice to the hospital; instead, she had pizza ordered and called a relative to say that they might not make it to the fireworks show. It was not until 2 hours later, at 7:00 pm, that a 911 call was ultimately placed. By that time, Alice’s body was cold and could not be revived.

The trial lasted four full days. The jury took only 17 minutes, however, to return guilty verdicts on both counts of neglect resulting in death.

Prosecutor Moers stated: “This heartbreaking case highlights the need to speak up for innocent children placed in dangerous situations by their parents who disregard their duty to keep them safe and healthy. I am proud of the tireless efforts by my office to bring increased accountability and visibility to crimes involving children. Everyone in the community needs to do their part to raise awareness; one child dying of neglect is one too many.

I want to thank the medical professionals and school staff who did their best to treat Alice’s diabetes and to provide her with the compassion and care that a 12-year-old girl with diabetes ought to be shown. Alice is no longer here with us, but the justice that was achieved through this trial will resonate loudly and speak clearly that our community will not accept any excuses for mistreatment of kids, especially by parents. The hope that others like Alice will be saved grows ever stronger when we stand firm in advocating for those without a voice.

I also want to thank my Chief Deputy Winston Lin and Deputy Prosecutor Audrey Beckerle for persevering through now two long trials to hold the parents accountable for their neglect. My appreciation goes to Det. J. Helm, Det. P. Luecke, and Officer A. Hadley for their testimony and conducting a thorough investigation, and to J. Savage, J. Carter, J. Pollock, and M. Richardville for their fierce dedication in ensuring the readiness of our trial preparations.”

Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2026, in front of the Honorable Judge Ryan D. Hatfield of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court. A Level 1 Felony carries a sentence range of 20 to 40 years.