EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Deputies responded to a report of a child living in a camper on Staubs Lane around 8:45 p.m. Friday. The call came from a Department of Child Services caseworker who said the child was staying outside without heat or running water.
When deputies arrived, they were led to the camper by the child’s mother, Gloria Rittenberry. Inside, they found the child asleep on a sleeping bag. The camper was cold, with a single space heater providing the only heat. Outside temperature at the time was 37 °F.
The deputy’s report noted trash, old food, exposed wiring hanging from the ceiling, and the space heater positioned close to clothing and debris – a clear fire hazard. The camper’s water system was not functioning.
According to the child, the camper gets cold and they are not permitted to sleep inside the house. Rittenberry told deputies that she and the child often stay inside the house but sometimes use the camper. Deputies observed that the house itself had heat, running water and sufficient food.
When questioned, the child reiterated that Rittenberry would not let them sleep inside the home. Based on the evidence, deputies arrested Rittenberry and booked her into the Vanderburgh County Jail on a felony neglect charge.
Legal implications
Indiana law defines neglect as the failure of a parent or caretaker to provide a child with adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care or supervision. Prosecutors will determine whether the circumstances meet the statutory threshold for a felony, which carries a potential prison sentence and loss of parental rights.
Community response
Local child‑welfare advocates emphasized the importance of safe housing for children, especially during colder months. “Every child deserves a warm, secure place to sleep,” said a representative from the Indiana Department of Child Services. “We will continue to investigate and ensure that families receive the support they need to keep children safe.”
Neighbors in the Staubs Lane area expressed concern over the incident, noting that the camper had been parked there for some time. “It’s unsettling to think a child was left in those conditions,” one resident said.
The case remains under investigation, and further details will be released as the legal process moves forward.
Original reporting: 14 News WFIE Evansville (news) — read the source article.
