A 29-year-old woman from Indiana, Ashley N. Gibson, was arrested after allegedly boarding a city bus with a 2-year-old child zipped inside a rolling suitcase.
She reportedly told authorities it was an effort to “keep him warm.”.. Continue reading here ▶
The incident happened on December 12, 2024, on a Bloomington Transit bus. According to reports, the bus driver became aware of the child inside the suitcase shortly after Gibson boarded and pulled the bus over near West 3rd Street before calling 911.
Bloomington police reviewed surveillance footage from the bus and found that Gibson boarded at 1:43 p.m. and sat at the front of the bus, meaning the toddler had been zipped inside the suitcase for at least 18 minutes.
Officers noted that the child was wearing a puffy winter jacket and long pants, appropriate for the day’s temperature of 37°F, making Gibson’s explanation questionable.
When questioned, Gibson confirmed the child’s age and claimed she zipped him inside the suitcase to keep him warm. She also stated that a family caseworker had told her it was acceptable, though officers found this explanation suspicious.
A police report recommended criminal charges, saying Gibson had endangered the child’s life by placing him inside the suitcase and zipping it closed. Gibson was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail.
She appeared in court, where she pleaded not guilty to felony child neglect and misdemeanor criminal recklessness. A judge allowed her release on her own recognizance, provided she follows conditions set by the Department of Child Services.
Gibson is scheduled for a pretrial conference on March 9 and a jury trial on April 23. If convicted, she could face up to 2 1/2 years in prison.
