A 29-year-old Indiana woman, Ashley N. Gibson, was arrested after police discovered she had placed a 2-year-old child inside a zipped rolling suitcase on a city bus, claiming it was to “keep him warm.”
The incident occurred on December 12, 2024, on a Bloomington Transit bus... Continue reading here ▶
A concerned bus driver noticed the situation shortly after Gibson boarded and stopped the bus to call 911.
Police reviewed the bus’s surveillance footage, showing the child had been zipped inside the suitcase for at least 18 minutes.
Officers noted the child was already dressed appropriately for the 37°F weather, wearing a winter jacket and long pants, making Gibson’s claim about keeping him warm questionable.
Gibson told officers the child was 2 years old and said she believed it was acceptable to put him in the suitcase, alleging a family caseworker had approved it. Police found her explanation suspicious.
Authorities charged Gibson with felony child neglect and misdemeanor criminal recklessness, stating that putting the child in the suitcase endangered his safety. She was arrested and taken to Monroe County Jail.
In court, Gibson pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance under specific conditions set by the Department of Child Services.
Her pretrial conference is scheduled for March 9, with a jury trial set for April 23. If convicted, she could face up to 2 1/2 years in prison.
