Jury Convicts Indiana Man of Neglect in Daughter’s Diabetes-Related Death

A Vanderburgh County, Indiana jury convicted Brent M. Bredhold of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 3 felony, for the death of his 12-year-old daughter, Alice. The jury reached its decision in just an hour and a half after hearing days of medical and investigative testimony. Judge Ryan D. Hatfield presided over the trial. Bredhold now faces a sentence of three to sixteen years, with formal sentencing set for October 23.

A Preventable Tragedy

On July 4, 2024, Evansville police officers responded to a 911 call on South New York Avenue and found 12-year-old Alice unresponsive. A forensic pathologist later determined that diabetic ketoacidosis—a life-threatening complication of unmanaged Type 1 diabetes—caused her death.
Alice had been diagnosed with the disease in 2020 and required consistent monitoring and insulin treatment. According to medical experts, her death could have been avoided with proper care. The autopsy revealed her liver had grown to four times its normal size, and her heart had doubled in size due to long-term poor diabetes management.

Warnings Ignored

During the trial, doctors testified that Bredhold had received repeated education and training about his daughter’s condition. Despite those opportunities, her care remained inconsistent. Alice had been hospitalized several times in the two years leading up to her death. On one occasion, medical staff urged the family to seek support from a pediatric psychologist to improve supervision, but they did not follow through.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Lin said the failure to act had devastating consequences. “Alice’s parents should have been her strongest advocates, but all they had to offer was apathy, indifference, and neglect,” Lin said. “Of the hundreds of Type 1 diabetic children seen by her endocrinologist, she was the only one to die directly because of her diabetes.”

Justice Through Collaboration

Prosecutor Diana Moers emphasized how the case required collaboration across the community. “Our trials are a community effort,” she said. “This one required testimony from law enforcement, medical experts, and school personnel. This case will stick with us forever. I think of it often, and my heart goes out to all who loved this little girl.”
Investigators, including Detectives J. Helm and P. Luecke and Officer A. Hadley, worked closely with prosecutors to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Deputy Prosecutor A. Beckerle led the courtroom presentation, supported by a team who reviewed years of medical records and educational reports to build the case.

Remembering Alice

Although Alice’s death deeply affected the Evansville community, those who cared for her in life remain determined to honor her memory. Prosecutors praised the compassion of her teachers and doctors, describing them as the “true heroes” who gave Alice comfort and hope.
“Alice knew that some people would fight for her well-being,” Lin said. “Because of them, she experienced kindness and care even when her home life failed her.”
As sentencing approaches later this month, local officials say the conviction delivers a measure of justice for a young life lost too soon—and a reminder that parental responsibility cannot be ignored.