Missing Child: Ava Marie Gonzales

Austin Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 9-Year-Old Girl Amid Abuse Investigation

The Austin Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales. She hasn’t been seen by family since December 2017, when she was just 2 years old and in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales. Authorities say she was never reported missing.

Concern for Ava’s welfare intensified after her mother was arrested last month on a Serious Injury to a Child charge. Police responded to a welfare check at an apartment on Ross Road in Del Valle, where they found Ava’s 7-year-old sibling malnourished and locked inside a closet, according to an arrest affidavit.

The child was discovered by a grandmother, who told police that children in the home had been instructed to lock the girl in the closet for “weeks at a time” because of issues with bladder control and for “getting into things.” Medical staff found the child weighed only 29 pounds and had dark spots on her body—signs of malnutrition. She told staff that her “bones hurt.”

An older sibling reported that the child received only a hot dog or corn dog in the morning and evening and half a cup of water daily. Despite the neglect, police said the home had a fully stocked pantry and fridge. The closet where the child was confined had no light or ventilation, measured about 4’9” by 1’10”, and was further cramped by stored items. Boxes weighing over 75 pounds were used to barricade the door.

Police fear for Ava’s safety based on the severe abuse her sibling endured. “Given the conditions we found the 7-year-old in, we are extremely concerned about Ava,” said Det. Russell Constable with APD’s Child Abuse Unit.

Ava’s current whereabouts are unknown. Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at ava@austintexas.gov or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

Virginia Gonzales is currently in custody. Police revealed that none of the seven children living in the apartment were enrolled in school, and some had never attended a classroom.

Legal expert Shelly Troberman, who has Child Protective Services experience, called the situation highly unusual. “It’s rare for a child to be missing for years without anyone noticing—typically there are doctor visits, school records, and a second parent involved,” she said. She noted that in similar cases, misinformation and manipulation by caregivers can delay detection.

Timeline: The Disappearance of Ava Marie Gonzales and Related Abuse Investigation

December 2017

• Ava Marie Gonzales, age 2, is last seen by family members while in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales, in Austin, Texas.

• No missing person report is filed at the time.

Between 2017 and 2024

• Ava’s whereabouts remain unknown.

• Virginia Gonzales continues to have custody of multiple children.

• None of the seven children in her care are enrolled in school, according to police.

April 2024 (exact date not provided)

• A 911 call prompts Austin Police to conduct a welfare check at an apartment on Ross Road in Del Valle.

• A grandmother reports finding her 7-year-old granddaughter, Ava’s younger sibling, barricaded inside a closet, malnourished, and soiled.

April 2024 (same day as welfare check)

• Police find the 7-year-old girl weighing only 29 pounds and covered in dark spots, indicative of severe malnourishment.

• The child tells medical staff at Dell Children’s Medical Center that her “bones hurt.”

• An older sibling tells police the girl was given only a hotdog or corndog twice daily and half a cup of water.

• The closet where she was kept had no ventilation or lighting, measured about 4’9” x 1’10”, and was blocked by boxes weighing over 75 pounds.

Late April 2024

• Virginia Gonzales is arrested on charges of Serious Injury to a Child.

• She is taken into custody by the Austin Police Department.

May 2024

• Following the arrest and investigation into the siblings’ abuse, APD issues a public alert seeking help in locating Ava Marie Gonzales, now age 9.

• Detective Russell Constable of the Child Abuse Unit holds a press conference, stating deep concern for Ava’s safety given the circumstances of her sibling’s abuse.

May 2024 – Ongoing

• Ava remains missing.

• The public is urged to submit any information to ava@austintexas.gov or call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

• Authorities and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children release an age-progressed photo to aid in the search.