Ava Marie Gonzales was last seen in December 2017 when she was 2 years old. Her mother was arrested last month for abuse of her 7-year-old daughter.
AUSTIN, Texas — Warning: This article contains details that readers may find disturbing.
The Austin Police Department (APD) is asking for the public’s help locating a missing 9-year-old girl who hasn’t been seen in more than six years.
Police said Ava Marie Gonzales was last seen by family and friends in December 2017 when she was 2 years old and in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales.
Virginia Gonzales, 33, was arrested in Del Valle last month after she was accused of keeping her 7-year-old daughter imprisoned in a closet for multiple weeks.
The 7-year-old's grandmother allegedly found the girl barricaded in a bedroom closet on April 3. Court documents allege the child was soiled, weighed just 29 pounds and was severely malnourished. Medical professionals report the young victim suffered permanent brain damage from prolonged starvation.
The girl and her six siblings – who are between the ages of 2 and 14 years old – were put into protective custody. During the investigation, police discovered an eighth child, later identified as Ava Gonzales, was not inside the home. According to police, she was last seen in 2017, but was never formally reported missing.
Because she has not been seen in more than six years, Ava Gonzales' height and weight are unknown. However, she has straight brown hair and brown eyes. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has provided the age-progressed photo below to try to help anyone who may have seen her recognize her:
Credit: Austin Police Department/KVUE
These pictures show Ava at 2 years old and an age progressed photo showing what she would look like today.
Police said Virginia Gonzales has provided "conflicting information to many different family members" regarding her missing daughter's whereabouts, and investigators have been unable to positively identify Ava Gonzales' father. Police do know there is no record of any of Virginia Gonzales' children, including Ava Gonzales, attending school in Central Texas.
“How many mandatory reporters came into this child’s life and dropped the ball? That’s my question,” said Michelle Locke, a former family court and Child Protective Services (CPS) judge.
Locke – who is now an Austin-based family law lawyer – said in Texas, there is mandatory kindergarten enrollment for all children above the age of six. She said it's partially to help keep track of kids and their welfare.
She said the lack of school records for Viriginia Gonzales’ children shows that Ava Gonzales was failed by every safety net meant to protect vulnerable children like her, including doctors, her family, schools and the system.
“I will say this is: as dysfunctional as it gets, someone knows what's going on and there's a reason why they didn't report,” Locke said.
Locke, who said she worked on over 5,000 cases, told KVUE children go missing more often than people think, especially in CPS cases. She said in her experience, statistics show that the chance of finding Ava Gonzales alive may be low.
When asked about Virginia Gonzales' previous history with CPS, APD Det. Russell Constable said the department can't comment on CPS's investigation. Constable also said the department can't comment on Virginia Gonzales' previous criminal history.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which includes CPS, said DFPS cases are confidential but could confirm that the department is investigating alongside police and that the seven children found in the Virginia Gonzales' home have been removed from the family and placed into foster care.
Anyone with any information about Ava Gonzales' whereabouts is asked to email ava@austintexas.gov or submit an anonymous tip to the Capital Area Crime Stoppers onlineor by calling 512-572-8477.
Virginia Gonzales remains booked in the Travis County Jail on a charge of serious bodily injury to a child. She is being held on a $75,000 bond.
