The mother of a missing Texas girl was arrested last month after her other daughter was found severely malnourished in a closet.
Virginia Gonzales’ 7-year-old child was discovered by her grandmother on April 3, locked inside a bedroom closet. The closet, measuring 5 feet by 2 feet, had no light or ventilation, severely restricting the girl’s movements. Reports indicate that the girl was left in the closet for several weeks.
Authorities in Austin shared that inside the closet, there were only 3 feet by 1 foot, 10 inches of space available due to items stored inside. It was revealed that Gonzales, aged 33, left her daughter in the confined space for a month, providing her with only a corndog and a minimal amount of water daily. The situation was brought to light by KTBC.
Upon the child’s discovery, it was observed that she weighed a mere 29 pounds. Medical professionals stated that the girl had endured lasting damage to her brain as a result of prolonged malnourishment and lack of sustenance, as reported by WVUE.
Gonzales children allegedly told their grandmother that she ordered them to lock the 7-year-old in the closet because she had bladder issues and was getting into stuff. The victim’s 10-year-old brother said he was instructed to clean the closet because the girl was defecating and urinating in there.
Investigators pointed out that a pantry, refrigerator, and freezer in Gonzales’ home was stocked with food, KEYE reported.
Gonzales is also the mother of Ava Marie Gonzales, who was two when she vanished in 2017. Ava Marie Gonzales, who is now nine, remains unaccounted for.
Virginia Gonzales, who was arrested on April 24, is charged with severe injury to a child. Her seven children — including her malnourished daughter — are in protective custody while she remains incarcerated.
[Feature Photo: Austin police]
