An Indiana resident has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for his involvement in the avoidable death of his 12-year-old daughter.

Brent M. Bredhold, aged 39, was recently found guilty by a jury of neglecting a dependent leading to serious bodily harm. Although he faced a possible sentence of up to 16 years, his punishment was slightly less severe.

On Thursday, Judge Ryan D. Hatfield of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court handed down a nine-year prison sentence to Bredhold.

The case centers around the tragic passing of Alice Bredhold, 12, who succumbed to complications from diabetes that were treatable but largely ignored.

While Bredhold was initially charged with neglect resulting in death, the jury concluded with a conviction on a lesser charge.

“This devastating case highlights the tragedy of a 12-year-old girl with Type 1 diabetes left without proper care, leading to her premature death,” stated Vanderburgh County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Winston Lin in a press release following the jury’s decision. “Her parents were meant to be her strongest supporters in maintaining her health, yet they only provided neglect and indifference.”

During the father’s trial, testimony showed the little girl’s diabetes had been poorly managed for quite a long time.

On July 4, 2024, Alice was found dead on her bedroom floor at the family’s residence on South New York Avenue in Evansville, according to affidavits obtained by Evansville-based NBC affiliate WFIE.

An ensuing investigation determined the girl had diabetes, but that her parents were not helping her manage the lifelong disease. Before Alice died, the Hoosier State’s Department of Child Services contacted Alice’s parents because her blood sugar levels frequently tested in an exceedingly high range while she was at school.

During opening arguments, the prosecution cited the victim’s documented history of sugar spikes in her blood, according to a courtroom report by Evansville-based ABC affiliate WEHT.

The state cited a school nurse who reported 44 readings in excess of 300 and 14 readings above 600 in the weeks leading up to her death.

For people with diabetes, blood sugar levels less than 180 two hours after starting a meal are considered typical targets, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The state successfully argued the onus for dealing with such a health condition is on the parents — at least for a 12-year-old.

“Kids don’t understand the value of daily routines,” Lin told the jury. “With Type 1 diabetes, it is critical.”

Lin went on to say the girl’s death was only a matter of time under such circumstances. He also reportedly cited others who said her too-soon death was “a shocking event but not surprising.”

The end result of long-term neglect in the specific instance was all but foreseen, prosecutors proved during trial. Alice had been hospitalized numerous times since she was 10 years old, prosecutors said.

In one serious post-hospitalization series of events, the Bredhold family obtained the services of a pediatric psychologist. But even then, Lin said, Brent Bredhold “did not follow through with the psychologist’s professional guidance.”

During the father’s trial, jurors also heard from numerous witnesses.

Several members of law enforcement testified. Some recalled conversations with family members. Others recalled photographing the scene and finding various implements common to those with diabetes. Such items included test strips, injection pens, medicine bottles, alcohol prep pads, pen needle caps, a meter and transmitters, and pods of insulin for an insulin pump, according to WEHT.

One detective testified Brent Bredhold was not part of those initial goings-on at all. Instead, the detective recalled only seeing or speaking with Alice’s brother, sister, mother, and maternal grandparents on the day the girl was found deceased from diabetic ketoacidosis.

The father’s defense attorney, Dawnya Taylor, attempted to paint a different picture of her client by taking issue with how the state presented him to the jury. The man’s lawyer said the prosecution might have led jurors to believe he was a single parent — which he is not. Instead, she argued, the defendant was often not at home and able to deal with daily tasks because of his job working on the railroad — which often caused him to travel for more than two days at a time.

That strategy, however unsuccessful, hints at the fact that Alice’s mother,  Ashley Marie Bredhold, 39, is also accused of neglect of a dependent causing death. Her trial is slated to begin in February 2026.

Lin went on, at length, in the father’s post-verdict statement:

Parental responsibility is not a 9-5 job, to clock in or clock out when convenient. That said, this was an extreme case where Alice was not properly supervised for years, and the long-term neglect placed her in a precarious situation that cut her life short. Of the hundreds of Type 1 diabetic kids under the age of 18 seen by her pediatric endocrinologist, she was the only one to have died directly due to her diabetes. The true heroes in this case are the medical professionals and school staff who showed warmth and care to Alice and provided moments of respite in her daily life. Because of them, Alice at least knew that some people would fight for her well-being.

Alice attended Evans Elementary School, where she played cello in the school’s orchestra, a tribute remembers. An avid reader, Alice was in a local book club. She was also a member of a youth team dedicated to the scientific exploration of rocks, fossils, and minerals.

“Alice was naturally artistic and creative, and enjoyed doing crafts and drawing,” her obituary reads. “She loved being with her family and spending time with friends. Alice will be remembered for her outgoing, energetic, and friendly spirit. She will be deeply missed.”