Authorities in Austin, Texas, are on the lookout for a 9-year-old girl who went missing in 2017, shortly after her 7-year-old sister was discovered in a distressed state, locked in a closet without access to food. The incident came to light following a 911 call on April 3 reporting the 7-year-old’s situation at a residence in Del Valle. Additional children were found in the home, seemingly in good physical health, according to Russell Constable of the Austin Police Department during a press briefing on Tuesday. The 7-year-old has since been hospitalized and is undergoing recovery.
Subsequent investigations revealed that another child, Ava Marie Gonzales, was absent from the household. Family and acquaintances last saw Ava in December 2017 when she was 2 years old. She was under the care of her mother, Virginia Gonzales, as per police statements. Gonzales provided conflicting details regarding Ava to relatives, and efforts to locate the child’s father have proven unsuccessful. Authorities are seeking assistance from the public in locating Ava’s whereabouts and ensuring her safety and well-being.
Ava Marie Gonzales, aged 2 in December 2017, was never reported missing, raising significant concerns among officials, especially in light of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of her 7-year-old sibling. Virginia Gonzales was apprehended on April 24 on charges related to the serious injury of the 7-year-old child. Details from an arrest affidavit describe a distressing scene where the child was discovered by her grandmother in a malnourished and confined state within a bedroom closet. It was alleged that the other children were compelled to lock her in the closet due to concerns about her eating non-food items. The 7-year-old was reportedly provided minimal sustenance, such as a hot dog or corndog in the morning and restricted water intake.
Gonzales is in custody at the Travis County Correctional Complex on a $75,000 bond. Authorities continue their efforts to locate Ava with the hopes of ensuring her safety and well-being.
