Authorities Seek Missing Child After Mother Arrested for Abuse

In Texas, law enforcement is actively searching for a 9-year-old girl who has been missing for over seven years. This investigation began following the arrest of the child's mother, accused of confining her 7-year-old daughter in a closet for an extended period.

The suspect, 33-year-old Virginia Marie Gonzales from Austin, is facing charges of causing injury to her child after police discovered her younger daughter in a closet last month, allegedly suffering from severe neglect and starvation.

The 7-year-old victim was found by her grandmother who immediately alerted authorities. According to arrest documents, the child was malnourished and in poor conditions, confined within a barricaded closet since April 3. The grandmother intervened after visiting the apartment following Gonzales's arrest on unrelated drug charges.

According to the affidavit, the mother reportedly confined the child for about a month, providing only minimal food—typically a single hot dog or corn dog twice a day—and half a cup of water.

The young girl was quickly transported to a hospital for urgent care, where doctors found her to weigh only 29 pounds, depicting clear signs of malnourishment. The incident was labeled as particularly distressing by Detective Russell Constable during a media briefing.

Search for Missing Child Ava Marie Gonzales Continues

Initially believed to be one of several children in Gonzales's care, investigators soon realized an eighth child, Ava Marie Gonzales, had not been accounted for. Reports indicate she was last seen in December 2017 at the age of two, and no one has reported her missing since.

Detectives from the Austin Police Department have expressed deep concern for Ava's safety, prompted by the dire situation uncovered with her younger sister.

Although an immediate response from Gonzales’s legal counsel is pending, records show she remains detained in Travis County, with bail set at $75,000. Her court proceedings are scheduled for next week.

To date, no formal missing person report for Ava Marie has been filed by her mother or relatives. Authorities mention that Gonzales has given inconsistent accounts regarding her daughter's disappearance.

Police are urging anyone with knowledge of Ava's whereabouts to reach out, as the situation remains unresolved, with her biological father yet to be identified. Efforts to verify the mother's statements are ongoing.

Community Call to Action

The police have shared an age-progressed image of Ava, hoping it will lead to new information. Residents are asked to provide any leads via email or anonymously connect with local Crime Stoppers.