A horrific case of child abuse has emerged in Austin, Texas, where 33-year-old Virginia Gonzales was arrested after authorities discovered her 7-year-old daughter locked in a closet, severely malnourished, and suffering from brain damage due to starvation.
The child, weighing only 29 pounds, had been trapped in a dark, airless closet for weeks, receiving just one corndog and half a cup of water per day. Her 10-year-old brother told police that he was ordered to clean the closet, as his sister was forced to urinate and defecate inside.
The case took an even darker turn when authorities realized that Gonzales had never reported her other daughter, 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales, missing. Ava was last seen in 2017 when she was just 2 years old, and investigators are now searching for her whereabouts.
The Austin Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit is leading the investigation, and Gonzales is currently being held on a $75,000 bond. The six other children in the home, ranging from ages 2 to 14, appeared physically healthy and had been placed into protective custody.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Ava Marie Gonzales to contact Crime Stoppers or email ava@austintexas.gov.
Investigators have also uncovered conflicting statements from Gonzales regarding Ava’s whereabouts, raising concerns about what may have happened to the missing child. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released an age-progressed photo of Ava to assist in the search.
Meanwhile, medical professionals treating the 7-year-old survivor have reported moderate to severe cerebral atrophy, indicating permanent brain damage due to prolonged starvation.
The Austin Police Department and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services continue to investigate the case, with child welfare advocates calling for systemic reforms to prevent similar tragedies.
