Honk News (Bedford, IN) – An Indiana woman, 29, has been taken into custody after reportedly getting on a city bus with a rolling suitcase containing a 2-year-old child zipped inside, claiming it was to “keep him warm.”
Ashley N. Gibson was arrested last week and faces charges of felony child neglect and misdemeanor criminal recklessness, according to records obtained by Law&Crime.
A Bloomington Transit bus incident occurred on December 12, 2024, as reported by WBIW, a radio news station in Bedford, Indiana. After Gibson got on the bus, the driver noticed a child in the woman’s suitcase, prompting him to pull over near West 3rd Street and call 911 right away.
Officers from the Bloomington Police Department arrived at the scene and examined surveillance footage from the vehicle. They found that Gibson boarded the bus at 1:43 p.m. and took a seat near the front, indicating that the toddler had been inside Gibson’s suitcase for a minimum of 18 minutes.
Gibson reportedly told an officer that her 2-year-old child was inside a closed suitcase because she was attempting to “keep him warm,” according to Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN. The officers found the explanation unusual, observing that the child was dressed appropriately for the cold weather, wearing a puffy winter jacket and long pants, as temperatures reached around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
When questioned about zipping a toddler inside a suitcase, Gibson allegedly informed officers that she had discussed the matter with her family caseworker, who supposedly said it was acceptable.
Police have suggested that Gibson should be charged for allegedly putting the victim in a suitcase, zipping it up, and creating a life-threatening situation.
Authorities arrested Gibson and brought her to the Monroe County Jail for processing. On Tuesday, she appeared in court for the first time, represented by a public defender, and pleaded not guilty to both charges. A judge has granted her release on her own recognizance, contingent upon her compliance with conditions established by the state’s Department of Child Services.
According to online court records, Gibson is set to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court on March 9 for a pretrial conference. A jury trial is scheduled to start on April 23.
Gibson could receive up to 2 1/2 years in prison if found guilty.