Search Launched for Missing Girl After Mother Arrested for Allegedly Abusing Child

A Texas mother’s alleged abuse of her 7-year-old daughter led authorities to discover another chilling mystery – they now believe her other daughter has been missing since 2017.

Key Insights

Virginia Gonzales’ 7-year-old daughter was found locked in a 5′ x 2′ closet, severely malnourished at only 29 pounds, and she reportedly suffered brain damage from starvation.
The child was allegedly fed only a corndog and half cup of water daily despite abundant food in the home, while six other children showed no signs of abuse.
Police are now urgently searching for Gonzales’ daughter Ava Marie, who they believe disappeared in 2017 at age 2.
Gonzales was arrested on April 24 and charged with severe injury to a child; all seven of her children are now in protective custody.

Horrific Discovery Leads to Arrest

On April 3, authorities made a shocking discovery in an Austin-area home when they found a 7-year-old girl barricaded in a closet measuring just 5 feet by 2 feet. The closet had no light or ventilation, and the child had been confined there for approximately a month. The girl was severely malnourished, weighing only 29 pounds—far below the healthy weight for her age. Medical professionals found she had suffered irreversible brain damage due to prolonged starvation and neglect. Virginia Marie Gonzales, the child’s mother, was arrested on April 24 and charged with severe injury to a child.

The investigation revealed that despite having adequate food in the home, Gonzales restricted her daughter to just a corndog and half a cup of water daily. According to statements from Gonzales’ other children, she instructed them to lock their sister in the closet. The girl’s 10-year-old brother reported being told to clean the closet because his sister was forced to use it as her bathroom. While this child allegedly endured horrific conditions, six other children in the home showed no signs of abuse.

Police searching for girl missing since 2017 after mom arrested for locking starving sister in closet for weeks https://t.co/471pYLGTyS pic.twitter.com/V8N82YkWyc

— New York Post (@nypost) May 7, 2025

Another Child Missing Since 2017

As authorities investigated the abuse case, they made another alarming discovery: Gonzales’ daughter Ava Marie appears to have been missing since 2017. Ava was reportedly last seen with her mother at the age of 2 and would now be 9 years old. The disappearance of one child and the alleged mistreatment of another has raised serious concerns about Ava’s welfare. Law enforcement officials have released both a photo of Ava as a toddler and an age-progression image showing what she might look like today.

Ava Marie is described as a Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes. Police are urgently appealing to the public for any information that might help locate her. Given the condition in which her sister was found, authorities are expressing heightened concern for Ava’s safety and well-being. The Austin Police Department is coordinating efforts to find the missing child while simultaneously building their case against Virginia Gonzales.

Children in Protective Custody as Investigation Continues

All seven of Gonzales’ children, including the severely malnourished daughter discovered in the closet, have been placed in protective custody as the investigation proceeds. Authorities are working to understand why this particular child was singled out for such extreme abuse. Some reports suggest that bladder complications may have been used as justification for the confinement, though this explanation fails to account for the deliberate starvation and inhumane conditions the child reportedly endured.

As investigators continue building their case against Virginia Gonzales, the search for Ava Marie has taken on urgency given the state of her sibling. Police are urging anyone with information about Ava Marie’s whereabouts to come forward immediately.