An enormous search is underway for a younger woman now feared to have vanished in 2017 — with cops solely realizing when her mother was just 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 youngster abuse expenses 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 examine 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 canine and a 1/2 cup of water a day” to outlive on.
Medical checks later decided the kid had suffered “reasonable to extreme cerebral atrophy” mind injury from the extended hunger.
Six different youngsters, ages 2 to 14 years, had been additionally discovered inside the house however confirmed no indicators of abuse, cops stated.
There was additionally ample quantities of meals discovered inside the house, based on police.
The disturbing scene led investigators to find Ava’s mysterious disappearance.
Police stated they had been “severely involved” about Ava’s welfare given the circumstances wherein her sister was discovered.
“We’ve got info displaying that she was born to Virginia. We simply don’t know the place she is true now,” Detective Russell Constable stated.
“[The mom] has offered conflicting info to many various relations. So, we’re hoping to get extra info and take a look at to determine the place 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 picture of what she would possibly appear like now at age 9.
