Nine-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales mysteriously vanished in December 2017 when she was just two years old.
However, her disappearance only came to light in April, 2025, after her seven-year-old sister was discovered locked in a closet, starving and covered in filth, as reported by ABC News.
This shocking case which happened in Austin, Texas, has left both criminal investigators and the public deeply shaken.
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| Virginia Gonzales |
On April 3, 2025, 33-year-old Virginia Gonzales was arrested for possession of marijuana.
Following her arrest, she called her mother—the victim’s grandmother—to go to her home and help take care of things.
When the grandmother arrived at Gonzales' apartment, she made a horrifying discovery.
She found her 7-year-old granddaughter malnourished, filthy, and barricaded inside a bedroom closet, so she quickly called 911 for help.
The closet was about 4 feet 9 inches by 1 foot 10 inches, and there were heavy boxes in front of it that weighed over 75 pounds.
According to police reports, the little girl had been locked in the cramped space for almost a month.
During that time, she was only given a hot dog or corn dog twice a day, and a half cup of water each day, as reported by NBC News.
After she was rescued, the 7-year-old weighed just 29 pounds—well below the healthy range for her age—and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for emergency care.
Doctors say the girl now has serious brain damage because she was starved and abused for a long time.
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| Virginia Gonzales |
As crime scene investigators searched the apartment, they discovered six other children living there, ranging in age from 2 to 14.
Although they appeared physically unharmed, none of them were enrolled in school, raising serious concerns about their overall welfare..
However, the most shocking discovery was the unexplained absence of one child, Ava Marie Gonzales, who should have been nine years old.
She had been missing for eight years, and shockingly, no one had ever reported her disappearance
Detective Russell Constable of the Austin Police Department revealed that Ava was last seen in 2017 while in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales.
Since then, Gonzales reportedly told family members different stories about Ava’s whereabouts, making the situation even more confusing.
“We don’t know where she is right now, and that’s what we’re trying to figure out—her current status, who she’s with, and if she’s safe and healthy,” Constable said during a press conference.
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| Ava Marie Gonzales at 2 years |
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| Ava Marie Before Her disappearance |
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| Age progression picture of Ava at 9 years |
On April 24, 2025, Virginia Gonzales was arrested and charged with injury to a child in connection with the abuse of her seven-year-old daughter, as per the press release
She remains in custody at the Travis County Correctional Complex on a $75,000 bond, awaiting her next court hearing.
Despite extensive questioning, Gonzales has provided no clear explanation for Ava’s disappearance.
Also, the police have not been able to identify the child’s father yet, as reported by NBC News.
“Given the circumstances in which Ava’s sibling was found, we are seriously concerned about her welfare,” Detective Constable stressed.
Authorities have released an age-progressed photo of Ava, who has brown hair and brown eyes, in hopes that someone may recognize her.
If you have any information on Ava’s whereabouts — no matter how small—you are urged to contact:
- Email: [email protected]
- Anonymous tip line (Crime Stoppers): 512-572-8477
As Virginia Gonzales faces charges related to the abuse of her seven-year-old, the primary focus remains on locating Ava and ensuring the safety of the other children involved.
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