You step into a story that refuses to stay distant: a 12-year-old with Type 1 diabetes was left alone for 16 hours, told to “drink more water,” and later died of diabetic ketoacidosis. This piece explains what happened, why basic diabetes care matters, and how the case led to criminal charges and community outrage.
Expect a clear timeline of events from the day she was found to the trial, an examination of medical warning signs that were missed, and a look at the legal consequences the family now faces. The upcoming sections will show what the case reveals about parental responsibility and local responses in Evansville.
The Evansville Diabetic Neglect Case
Alice Bredhold, a 12-year-old with Type 1 diabetes, was found dead on July 4, 2024. The case centers on hours-long parental inaction, messages showing the child’s complaints, and medical findings that identified diabetic ketoacidosis as the cause of death.
Timeline of Events Leading to Alice Bredhold’s Death
Alice was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in March 2020 and had prior hospitalizations for diabetes complications. On July 4, 2024, prosecutors say her mother did not check on her between about 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. that day. When Ashley Bredhold finally saw Alice at 5:00 p.m., Alice was unresponsive, clammy, and foaming at the mouth, but 911 was not called until roughly 7:00 p.m. The delay left first responders unable to revive her. Court records and trial testimony included text messages showing Alice complained of chest pain and that drinking water felt like “drinking acid.” Jurors returned verdicts quickly after a four-day trial.
Details of Parental Neglect and Missed Warning Signs
Prosecutors argued both parents failed to follow medical guidance and obtain working insulin delivery equipment; the father said an Omnipod pump wasn’t working in the days before Alice’s death. Texts read at trial show family members advised simple remedies like “drink more water” instead of seeking urgent medical care. Medical records and testimony noted multiple previous diabetes-related hospital visits, indicating an established need for active management. When signs such as chest pain, persistent vomiting or unusual lethargy appeared, those are recognized red flags for severe metabolic disturbance that were not acted on promptly.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Its Role in Alice’s Passing
For people with Type 1 diabetes, prolonged insulin deficiency can produce diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): high blood glucose, ketone buildup, severe dehydration, and metabolic acidosis. The medical examiner determined DKA caused Alice’s death; findings included an enlarged liver and heart consistent with chronic metabolic stress. DKA can progress quickly, especially in children, and requires immediate medical treatment—IV fluids, insulin, and electrolyte correction. Delayed treatment greatly increases the risk of permanent damage or death, which prosecutors linked directly to the hours-long lapse before emergency services were contacted.
For local reporting and trial details, see the news account of the case.
Legal Consequences and Community Impact
The case resulted in criminal convictions for both parents and prompted local calls for better child-protection vigilance and diabetes care education. The legal outcomes and community reactions reveal how the justice system and neighbors responded to a preventable pediatric death.
Ashley and Brent Bredhold’s Trials and Sentencing
Ashley Bredhold was found guilty of two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death after a four-day trial with a 17-minute jury deliberation. Prosecutors presented evidence that she failed to check on her 12-year-old daughter for many hours and delayed calling 911 even after finding the child unresponsive. She faces sentencing on March 19, 2026, with potential prison time in the range reported by local authorities.
Brent Bredhold was separately tried and convicted earlier of neglect causing serious bodily injury; a jury sentenced him to nine years. Text messages introduced at trial showed failures to obtain replacement medical supplies and poor communication about the child’s symptoms. Court statements emphasized prior hospitalizations for diabetes complications as aggravating factors.
Raising Awareness About Parental Responsibility
Local officials and the prosecutor’s office used the case to urge parents to follow prescribed diabetes care plans, keep emergency contacts accessible, and seek immediate medical help for symptoms like vomiting, chest pain, or altered consciousness. Community advocates highlighted the need for timely replacement of medical devices and clearer caregiver training for Type 1 diabetes management.
Outreach efforts included calls to educate neighbors, schools, and extended family to report concerns to child-protective services. The prosecutor publicly framed the verdicts as a deterrent and a prompt to increase reporting and support for at-risk children, stressing that one preventable death drove a push for stronger community oversight.
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