Search Intensifies for Missing Austin Girl Following Disturbing Discovery
Austin, TX — Authorities in Austin are actively searching for 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales, who has been missing since December 2017, after her 7-year-old sister was discovered locked in a closet and malnourished. Police responded to a 911 call on April 3, where they found the 7-year-old girl in a Del Valle home, described as "starving" and "soiled." Detectives reported that six other children discovered in the home appeared physically healthy.
The investigation quickly revealed Ava’s troubling disappearance; she was last seen at the age of two. Family members reported that her mother, Virginia Gonzales, who held custody of both children, provided conflicting information about Ava’s whereabouts. Consequently, authorities are concerned for Ava’s welfare amid the troubling circumstances surrounding her sister’s condition.
Russell Constable from the Austin Police Department expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We don’t know where she is right now, and that’s what we’re trying to figure out. Her current status, where she is, who she’s with, and if she’s safe and healthy.”
Ava was never officially reported missing, raising questions about her situation. Police released photos of her at age two, alongside an age-progressed image, urging the public for assistance in locating her. Virginia Gonzales was arrested on April 24 on a charge of serious injury to a child concerning her 7-year-old daughter, who is now recovering in the hospital.
The grandmother of the children reported that the 7-year-old was often locked in the closet for her alleged misbehavior related to food. Reports indicate that the children had not been enrolled in school. Virginia Gonzales remains in custody with a bond set at $75,000 as the search for Ava continues.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
