Topline: Authorities say the child was discovered outside crying “mommy” after being left in the care of two teenagers who had been drinking.
Published: September 27, 2025 12:00 pm ET
Must Read
Ashly Ellis (via Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office)
EVANSVILLE, IN — An Indiana woman is facing multiple charges after police say she left her one-year-old daughter in the care of two intoxicated teenagers, resulting in the child being found alone in the street in the early morning hours.
According to the Evansville Police Department, the events unfolded around 5 a.m. on July 5 in the 1700 block of Stevens Avenue. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a toddler walking alone in the street, crying out “mommy.”
As reported by WFIE, the woman who found the child said the girl’s diaper was soaked, and she later noticed a severe diaper rash and sore.
The mother, identified as 42-year-old Ashley Ellis, was nowhere to be found. Authorities who responded to the home discovered two teenagers inside—Ellis’ 16-year-old daughter and her 15-year-old friend. The older teen was reportedly suffering a seizure and was transported to a local hospital, according to WEHT.
In statements given to police and later detailed in affidavits, the 15-year-old told investigators that Ellis had given both teens a bottle of vodka before leaving the house sometime after 1:30 a.m. The teens reportedly each consumed three shots, according to both WEHT and WFIE. The younger teen told officers she had no idea there was a baby in the home at the time.
Around 4:40 a.m., the teen said she heard the toddler crying and then noticed the child had walked outside. She estimated the baby may have been outside for nearly 30 minutes before being found. During that time, both teens had reportedly been vomiting from the alcohol, according to WFIE’s report.
Ellis was not immediately located. According to WIKY, police were unable to contact her for two days, during which she neither answered nor returned phone calls from investigators. When eventually interviewed by the Department of Child Services, Ellis admitted she left the vodka in the freezer and claimed one of the teens asked for a shot before she left. She stated she planned to return by 6 a.m., assuming the one-year-old wouldn’t wake until 10 a.m.
However, according to the affidavit obtained by WEHT, Ellis later told authorities she decided not to return home after a conversation with the child’s father and admitted to being “too scared” to face the situation once she learned what had occurred.
Authorities also say Ellis refused to submit to a drug screen requested by DCS. As reported by WFIE, she has been charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and is being held on a $750 bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Mom Accused of Giving Teens Vodka, Leaving Them with Her Baby
Authorities say the child was discovered outside crying “mommy” after being left in the care of two teenagers who had been drinking.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 27, 2025 12:00 pm ET
Ashly Ellis (via Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office)
EVANSVILLE, IN — An Indiana woman is facing multiple charges after police say she left her one-year-old daughter in the care of two intoxicated teenagers, resulting in the child being found alone in the street in the early morning hours.
According to the Evansville Police Department, the events unfolded around 5 a.m. on July 5 in the 1700 block of Stevens Avenue. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a toddler walking alone in the street, crying out “mommy.”
As reported by WFIE, the woman who found the child said the girl’s diaper was soaked, and she later noticed a severe diaper rash and sore.
The mother, identified as 42-year-old Ashley Ellis, was nowhere to be found. Authorities who responded to the home discovered two teenagers inside—Ellis’ 16-year-old daughter and her 15-year-old friend. The older teen was reportedly suffering a seizure and was transported to a local hospital, according to WEHT.
In statements given to police and later detailed in affidavits, the 15-year-old told investigators that Ellis had given both teens a bottle of vodka before leaving the house sometime after 1:30 a.m. The teens reportedly each consumed three shots, according to both WEHT and WFIE. The younger teen told officers she had no idea there was a baby in the home at the time.
Around 4:40 a.m., the teen said she heard the toddler crying and then noticed the child had walked outside. She estimated the baby may have been outside for nearly 30 minutes before being found. During that time, both teens had reportedly been vomiting from the alcohol, according to WFIE’s report.
Ellis was not immediately located. According to WIKY, police were unable to contact her for two days, during which she neither answered nor returned phone calls from investigators. When eventually interviewed by the Department of Child Services, Ellis admitted she left the vodka in the freezer and claimed one of the teens asked for a shot before she left. She stated she planned to return by 6 a.m., assuming the one-year-old wouldn’t wake until 10 a.m.
However, according to the affidavit obtained by WEHT, Ellis later told authorities she decided not to return home after a conversation with the child’s father and admitted to being “too scared” to face the situation once she learned what had occurred.
Authorities also say Ellis refused to submit to a drug screen requested by DCS. As reported by WFIE, she has been charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and is being held on a $750 bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Mom Accused of Giving Teens Vodka, Leaving Them with Her Baby
Authorities say the child was discovered outside crying “mommy” after being left in the care of two teenagers who had been drinking.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 27, 2025 12:00 pm ET
Ashly Ellis (via Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office)
EVANSVILLE, IN — An Indiana woman is facing multiple charges after police say she left her one-year-old daughter in the care of two intoxicated teenagers, resulting in the child being found alone in the street in the early morning hours.
According to the Evansville Police Department, the events unfolded around 5 a.m. on July 5 in the 1700 block of Stevens Avenue. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a toddler walking alone in the street, crying out “mommy.”
As reported by WFIE, the woman who found the child said the girl’s diaper was soaked, and she later noticed a severe diaper rash and sore.
The mother, identified as 42-year-old Ashley Ellis, was nowhere to be found. Authorities who responded to the home discovered two teenagers inside—Ellis’ 16-year-old daughter and her 15-year-old friend. The older teen was reportedly suffering a seizure and was transported to a local hospital, according to WEHT.
In statements given to police and later detailed in affidavits, the 15-year-old told investigators that Ellis had given both teens a bottle of vodka before leaving the house sometime after 1:30 a.m. The teens reportedly each consumed three shots, according to both WEHT and WFIE. The younger teen told officers she had no idea there was a baby in the home at the time.
Around 4:40 a.m., the teen said she heard the toddler crying and then noticed the child had walked outside. She estimated the baby may have been outside for nearly 30 minutes before being found. During that time, both teens had reportedly been vomiting from the alcohol, according to WFIE’s report.
Ellis was not immediately located. According to WIKY, police were unable to contact her for two days, during which she neither answered nor returned phone calls from investigators. When eventually interviewed by the Department of Child Services, Ellis admitted she left the vodka in the freezer and claimed one of the teens asked for a shot before she left. She stated she planned to return by 6 a.m., assuming the one-year-old wouldn’t wake until 10 a.m.
However, according to the affidavit obtained by WEHT, Ellis later told authorities she decided not to return home after a conversation with the child’s father and admitted to being “too scared” to face the situation once she learned what had occurred.
Authorities also say Ellis refused to submit to a drug screen requested by DCS. As reported by WFIE, she has been charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and is being held on a $750 bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
