She Locked Her 7-Year-Old in a Closet for Weeks… and Never Reported Her 9-Year-Old Daughter Missing Since 2017
In one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse seen in recent years, Austin authorities discovered a 7-year-old girl trapped in a pitch-black closet, emaciated, injured, and deeply traumatized. The child, weighing just 29 pounds—about the average weight of a 2-year-old—was so malnourished that doctors said her brain had been damaged by prolonged starvation. Her only nourishment: one corndog a day and half a cup of water.
Behind this horrifying scene stands her own mother, Virginia Gonzales, 33 years old, now arrested and facing charges that could imprison her for decades. But the case gets even darker: Virginia never reported her older daughter, 9-year-old Ava, missing. Ava hasn’t been seen by family or authorities since 2017.
A Child Trapped in Darkness
The rescue came on April 3, when the children’s grandmother made a surprise visit to the home and discovered something unimaginable: a small child, bruised and frail, locked inside a bedroom closet, hidden behind a barricade. The closet had no light and no ventilation. Inside, the stench of human waste was overwhelming. The girl had been forced to relieve herself in the same cramped space where she slept, ate, and lived.
The 7-year-old’s body told a painful story. She was covered in bruises and abrasions. Her skin was pale from lack of sunlight. She could barely stand. Police say she was severely dehydrated and dangerously underweight. The trauma was physical, but it was also deeply psychological—doctors confirmed that her cognitive development had been impaired due to the conditions she was forced to endure.
Her “crime,” according to statements given to police by her siblings? Struggling with bladder control and eating food without permission.
The Siblings’ Testimony
The girl’s 10-year-old brother recounted the twisted routine of daily abuse. He told police that his sister was only allowed one corndog per day and half a cup of water. He was also instructed by their mother to clean the closet after the girl urinated or defecated inside. There were no bathroom breaks. No contact. No play. Just hours upon hours in isolation and pain.
These children were not in hiding. They lived in plain sight of neighbors and family members. Yet no one knew the horror unfolding behind closed doors—until it was too late.
Where Is Ava?
As disturbing as the discovery of the 7-year-old was, it’s what Virginia Gonzales didn’t say that chilled investigators to the bone. In questioning, police learned that Gonzales has another daughter, Ava, who would be 16 years old now. But Ava hasn’t been seen since 2017, when she was just 9.
There are no missing person reports. No school records since that year. No explanation.
When asked about Ava, Gonzales allegedly gave inconsistent stories. Some reports say she told authorities that Ava went to live with another family member. Others say she claimed Ava ran away. But none of those accounts have been verified—and no one in the family seems to have seen or heard from Ava in eight years.
The fear now is that Ava may have met a fate even worse than her sister. Investigators have launched a full-scale search, interviewing neighbors, combing through records, and issuing appeals to the public for any information about Ava’s whereabouts.
The Arrest and Charges
Virginia Gonzales was arrested shortly after the grandmother’s discovery on April 3. She now faces multiple felony charges, including child endangerment, injury to a child, unlawful restraint, and potentially, charges related to the disappearance of Ava.
Child Protective Services has removed all children from Gonzales’ custody. The rescued 7-year-old is now undergoing intensive medical treatment and therapy. Her recovery—both physical and emotional—will be long and uncertain.
Authorities say they are committed to finding Ava and holding everyone responsible accountable. But as the community reels from the shock of what was discovered, serious questions remain: How did this go unnoticed for so long? Were there warning signs? Could this tragedy have been prevented?
A Community Left in Shock
Neighbors and community members expressed disbelief and anger. “I had no idea,” said one local resident. “They seemed like normal kids. We never imagined something like this could happen just next door.”
Child welfare advocates say this case underscores the importance of vigilance. “If something feels off—if you haven’t seen a child in a while, or you hear cries, or you notice signs of neglect—you have to say something,” said one CPS worker involved in the case. “This little girl survived a living hell, and there may be another child out there still waiting to be found.”
A Call for Justice
As the investigation deepens, the search for Ava continues. Detectives are treating her case as a potential homicide, but they hold onto hope that she may still be alive. Tips are coming in, and forensic teams are scouring every detail of Virginia Gonzales’ past and residence.
For the 7-year-old girl rescued from the closet, each day is now a step toward healing. She is surrounded by professionals working to undo years of trauma. But the scars she carries will never fully fade.
And for Ava—wherever she is—the world waits, hoping her story still has a voice.