An Indiana woman, aged 29, was recently arrested following an incident where she allegedly transported a two-year-old child inside a rolling suitcase on a city bus. The woman, identified as Ashley N. Gibson, was taken into custody and charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor criminal recklessness, according to official records.
The incident occurred on a Bloomington Transit bus on December 12, 2024. The bus driver noticed the child inside Gibson’s suitcase shortly after she boarded the bus, prompting him to stop the vehicle near West 3rd Street and call 911.
Upon arrival, Bloomington Police Department officers reviewed surveillance footage from the bus. The footage revealed that Gibson had boarded the bus at 1:43 p.m. and sat near the front, indicating that the toddler had been inside the suitcase for at least 18 minutes.
Gibson reportedly confirmed to the responding officers that the child was two years old. She claimed that she had intentionally kept the child in the closed suitcase to keep him warm. However, officers found this explanation unusual, as the child was wearing a winter jacket and long pants, appropriate for the day’s weather, which had a high of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gibson further explained that she had discussed the matter with her family caseworker, who allegedly told her that it was acceptable to transport the child in this manner. A probable cause affidavit, however, stated 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 taken 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 adheres to conditions set by the state’s Department of Child Services.
Gibson is scheduled to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court on March 9 for a pretrial conference. A jury trial is set to commence on April 23. If convicted, Gibson could face a maximum sentence of two and a half years in prison.