A Bloomington woman faces neglect and criminal recklessness charges alleging she boarded a city bus with a 2-year-old inside a suitcase. She reportedly told police she put the boy inside the rolling piece of luggage to keep him warm.
A detective’s report in the case said the child was inside the suitcase at least 18 minutes, the span of time between when the woman got on the bus the afternoon of Dec. 12 until she unzipped the suitcase and removed the child.
Ashley N. Gibson, 29, was arrested this week on a warrant charging her with neglect of a dependent, a felony, and criminal recklessness, a misdemeanor.
During a Jan. 15 initial court hearing, a not-guilty plea was entered and a public defender assigned to represent Gibson. Court records indicate she was released on her own recognizance and told to comply with conditions set by the Department of Child Services.
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The probable cause affidavit in the case says Gibson told a Bloomington Police Department officer called to the scene that she had zipped the toddler up inside the suitcase to keep him warm. She said a family caseworker had told her it was OK to do so.
When police arrived, they noted the child was appropriately dressed for winter, wearing pants and a puffy jacket with the hood up. Weather reports indicate it was 25 degrees and sunny in Bloomington that Thursday afternoon.
BPD Detective Jonathan Muscato’s report requested the charges against Gibson “for placing (the child) inside of a suitcase, zipping it up and placing (the child) in a situation that endangers his life or health.”
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana woman charged with neglect after toddler found in suitcase