An enormous search is underway for a younger woman now feared to have vanished in 2017 — with cops solely realizing when her mother was lately busted in Texas for allegedly locking the kid’s ravenous sister in a closet.
Ava Marie Gonzales, who would now be 9, was by no means reported lacking — however was final seen within the custody of her mother, Virginia Marie Gonzales, when she was simply 2, Austin Police revealed Tuesday.
Authorities blasted out the alert after the woman’s mom was nabbed on April 24 on sick little one abuse prices for allegedly forcing Ava’s 7-year-old sister right into a closet for a month with minimal meals.
The severely malnourished woman — who weighed a mere 29 kilos — was discovered barricaded within the 3-foot-by-2-foot enclosure when cops responded to a 911 welfare test again on April 3, KEYE reported, citing an arrest report.
The woman had allegedly been confined to the closet for a number of weeks and was solely given “one corn dog and a 1/2 cup of water a day” to outlive on.
Medical checks later decided the kid had suffered “moderate to severe cerebral atrophy” mind harm from the extended hunger.
Six different children, ages 2 to 14 years, had been additionally discovered inside the house however confirmed no indicators of abuse, cops mentioned.
There was additionally sufficient quantities of meals discovered inside the house, in line with police.
The disturbing scene led investigators to find Ava’s mysterious disappearance.
Police mentioned they had been “seriously concerned” about Ava’s welfare given the circumstances by which her sister was discovered.
“We have information showing that she was born to Virginia. We just don’t know where she is right now,” Detective Russell Constable mentioned.
“[The mom] has provided conflicting information to many different family members. So, we’re hoping to get more information and try to figure out where she is.”
Ava is described as a Hispanic feminine with straight brown hair and brown eyes.
Cops shared a photograph of Ava from when she was final seen as a toddler, in addition to an age-progression photograph of what she would possibly appear to be now at age 9.
