A 29-year-old Indiana woman, Ashley N. Gibson, was recently apprehended by authorities following an incident where she allegedly transported a toddler inside a rolling suitcase on a city bus. Gibson was charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor criminal recklessness, as per official documents.
The incident transpired on a Bloomington Transit bus on December 12, 2024. The bus driver noticed the toddler inside Gibson’s suitcase shortly after she boarded the bus. This observation led him to halt the vehicle near West 3rd Street and alert the authorities.
Upon their arrival, officers from the Bloomington Police Department examined surveillance footage from the bus. The video showed that Gibson had boarded the bus at 1:43 p.m. and sat near the front, suggesting that the toddler had been inside the suitcase for a minimum of 18 minutes.
Gibson reportedly confirmed to the officers that the child was two years old. She stated that she had intentionally placed the child in the closed suitcase to keep him warm. However, the officers found this explanation peculiar, as the child was dressed in a winter jacket and long pants, suitable for the day’s weather, which had a high of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gibson further claimed that she had discussed the situation with her family caseworker, who allegedly approved of her transporting the child in this manner. However, a probable cause affidavit indicated that police recommended criminal charges against Gibson for endangering the child’s life or health by placing him inside a suitcase.
Following the incident, Gibson was transported to the Monroe County Jail. She made her initial court appearance on Tuesday, where she pleaded not guilty to both charges. She was represented by a public defender and was ordered to be released on her own recognizance, provided she complies with conditions set by the state’s Department of Child Services.
Gibson is slated to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court on March 9 for a pretrial conference. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 23. If found guilty, Gibson could face a maximum sentence of two and a half years in prison.