A woman in Indiana is accused of putting her two-year-old child inside a suitcase to keep the kid "warm" while inside a bus.
Ashley Gibson, 29, has been arrested by authorities with the Bloomington Police Department after she put her toddler inside a suitcase and boarded the bus. The incident happened on December 12 around 1:43 p.m.
The bus driver hit the brakes and called law enforcement after Gibson stated that she placed her child inside the suitcase. It wasn't immediately clear if she voluntarily made the statement or if the driver overheard her, WAGM TV reported.
Video footage from inside the bus showed Gibson later unzipping the luggage and removing the boy. The boy had been inside the suitcase for about 18 minutes, according to Fox 59.
Why Did the Mother Keep the Child Inside the Suitcase?
In an interview with the responding offer, Gibson said she put him in the suitcase to "keep him warm." It was noted that the child appeared to be appropriately dressed for the cold weather, including a winter jacket and pants.
The officer questioned her further on why she placed the child in the suitcase, Gibson told authorities that she ran the idea by her family caseworker, who allegedly gave her approval, per Indiana Public Media.
What Charges Will the Mother Face?
Gibson was promptly arrested by the police and transported to the Monroe County Jail. She was preliminary charged with a level 6 felony for neglect of a dependent and criminal recklessness. The 29-year-old mother is currently out of jail under the condition that she complies with instructions from the Department of Child Services.
She is scheduled for an appearance at the Monroe Circuit Court 9 for a pretrial conference on March 12. She will also be scheduled to appear for a jury trial on April 23.
Gibson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was also released on her own recognizance, which means she was allowed to leave custody without having to post bail, based on her written promise to appear in court when required.
