DAD SENTENCED FOR SEVERE MEDICAL NEGLECT OF HIS DAUGHTER

Evansville, IN – Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that on October 22, 2025, Brent M. Bredhold was sentenced for Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 3 Felony, after he was found guilty at trial on October 1, 2025. The Honorable Judge Ryan D. Hatfield of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court presided and, after hearing evidence and argument from both the Defense and Prosecution, sentenced Bredhold to serve 9 years in prison.

On July 4, 2024, EPD officers responded to a 911 call at 506 S. New York Ave. for the death of Alice Bredhold, a 12-year-old girl with Type 1 diabetes. The forensic pathologist discovered that the cause of death was a life-threatening complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis. He also noted as contributors that the 12-year-old had a liver 4-times the normal size and a heart twice the normal size, both due to poorly controlled diabetes.

At trial, witnesses testified that the Defendant’s neglect of 12-year-old Alice spanned not just days, weeks, or months, but years. Alice was hospitalized or brought to the ER six times in the prior 3 years to her death. The Defendant had been regularly offered education and training regarding the care of diabetes and the importance of supervision. The defendant did not follow up with healthcare professionals, did not heed advice or ask for help, and his daughter paid with her life. Professionals report that their advice and counsel to him fell on deaf ears with seemingly no interest in helping his child manage the diabetes she was born with.

Prosecutor Moers states: “Alice’s death was tragic and, more importantly, it was wholly preventable.  The defendant is Alice’s dad, and he should have taken every step to keep her alive, but instead he trapped her in a situation which put her at dire risk due to her condition. The loss of a child is tragic, and the defendant had years and years to prevent a horrible tragedy from occurring and he disregarded every piece of advice and help he was offered.

At trial the doctor testified that not one other kid amongst the hundreds of his patients had passed away due to their Type 1 diabetes.  This was not a freak accident, nor was it a confluence of unexpected events.  Defendant had let it become inevitable.  And possibly the worst part is that Defendant had full knowledge of what was going on.   He was told over and over again that Type 1 diabetes is dangerous and can be fatal, that Alice had poorly controlled diabetes, that she could not consistently manage it, that direct parental supervision is essential, and that she had developed diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous turn of events inside of her body, multiple times in the past 3 years until the final occurrence killed her.

I should never have to file or prosecute a single case like this. Parents should be the ones caring for and protecting their children above all others.”

At the sentencing hearing, the school nurse and Alice’s teacher gave a glimpse into the indifference of the Defendant to his daughter’s condition but also to the lasting legacy of Alice who was struggling greatly but tried her best to think of others and to endure. Their testimony was touching and a true testament to the amazing support and love our school staff provide to students.  The school staff and medical professionals in this case are the true heroes.   Because of them, Alice at least knew that some people would fight for her well-being.

I want to thank Det. J. Helm, Det. P. Luecke, and Officer A. Hadley for their testimony and conducting a thorough investigation into a tough case. I also want to thank my Chief Deputy Winston Lin and Deputy Prosecutor A. Beckerle for their excellent trial presentation with support from J. Savage, G. Shots, J. Pollock, and M. Richardville in preparing for trial.