Gary Man Charged and Arrested for Child Molestation
A Gary man, Alfred J. Eskridge Jr., 67, has been charged after a nine-year-old child reported inappropriate contact inside a residence in the 800 block of Pierce Street in Gary.
Police were called on the morning of November 24, 2025, after the child contacted a parent and reported waking up to Eskridge in her bed. The affidavit states the child became frightened when she found Eskridge lying close behind her, prompting her to get up, leave the room, and call for help. Family members returned home from work, confronted Eskridge, and contacted police.
The child was transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital, where detectives interviewed her in a private exam room. A parent told investigators the child appeared startled and immediately reported the incident when they reached her by phone.
According to the affidavit, relatives also directed detectives to an interior hallway surveillance camera inside the home. Investigators reviewed the recording, which showed Eskridge standing outside the child’s open bedroom doorway for several moments. The footage showed him adjusting the front area of his shorts with his hand and then entering the child’s room. He stepped out briefly, looked toward another room, then went back inside the child’s bedroom and closed the door behind him.
During interviews, the nine-year-old also reported that similar early-morning incidents occurred in September and October while adults were already at work. She told detectives that Eskridge entered her room on those mornings and lay down behind her on the bed. She stated she had been too afraid to disclose the earlier incidents until the November encounter.
Detectives later interviewed Eskridge at the Gary Police Department. After waiving his rights, Eskridge admitted entering the child’s room and lying down in the bed behind her. According to the affidavit, he expressed regret and told detectives he wished he “wouldn’t have did that,” adding that he was old enough to know better. He acknowledged physical closeness to the child and said he hoped she would not wake up.
Eskridge was taken into custody following the interview.
Charges filed November 26,2025:
• Child Molesting – Fondling/Touching a Child Under 14- F4 Felony (3 counts)
