BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington woman is facing neglect charges after allegedly boarding a city bus in December with a two-year-old boy zipped inside a suitcase.
Ashley Gibson, 29, is charged with neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony and criminal recklessness, a Class B misdemeanor.
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According to court documents Gibson boarded a Bloomington Transit bus carrying the suitcase on Dec. 12. The driver pulled over and called police after Gibson reportedly said she had a baby inside of it.
When police arrived, they watched video footage from the bus, which showed the child was inside the suitcase for almost 18 minutes after Gibson boarded the bus.
Court documents state Gibson told police she put the child in the suitcase to keep him warm, but police said the bus stop had a glass enclosure and that the child had on a puffy winter coat with the hood up.
Police also said there was not an explanation as to why the child was still in the suitcase even after boarding the bus.
Gibson reportedly told police her family caseworker told her it was okay to do.
A judge issued a warrant on Jan. 9 and Gibson was arrested at her home Tuesday night. She has her initial hearing in court Wednesday afternoon.
If convicted, Gibson faces up to two and a half years for a Level 6 felony, according to Indiana sentencing guidelines.
