The Austin Police Department is asking the public for help in locating Ava Gonzales, a 9-year-old girl who has been missing since December 2017.
Her disappearance was not known until authorities arrested her mother, Virginia Gonzales, 33, in connection with disturbing abuse charges involving Ava’s younger sister. The investigation into the abuse of the 7-year-old led to the shocking discovery that Ava had never been reported missing.
Shocking Discovery and Missing Child Case
On April 3, 2025, authorities arrested Virginia Gonzales after allegations of abuse were brought forward, specifically concerning her 7-year-old daughter who had been found “locked in a closet and starving.” It was only after this arrest that police learned about Ava’s disappearance. The mother had not reported Ava missing for over seven years, raising serious concerns about the child’s safety and well-being.
Ava was last seen when she was just 2 years old. Due to the lengthy time that has passed, police are unable to estimate her current height or weight. However, she is described as a Hispanic female with brown eyes and straight brown hair. To aid in the search, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has released an age-progressed photo of Ava, which shows what she might look like today.
Details of the Investigation
Virginia Gonzales has reportedly given conflicting information to various family members regarding Ava’s whereabouts, and authorities have been unable to identify Ava’s father.
Austin Police Detective Russell Constable has expressed grave concern for Ava’s safety, emphasizing the importance of finding her and confirming whether she is safe and healthy. “We don’t know where she is right now… that’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Constable stated in a recent news conference.
Additionally, investigations into Virginia’s other children revealed that none of her eight children were enrolled in school. This raises serious questions about how Virginia managed to evade Texas’s mandatory school enrollment laws, which are designed to monitor children’s welfare. Michelle Locke, a former family court judge, questioned how this situation was overlooked, considering Texas’s mandatory kindergarten enrollment law.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS) has confirmed that the seven children found in the home have been removed and are now in foster care. However, CPS cannot comment on whether Virginia had any prior interactions with the department.
Details of the Abuse Case
Ava’s younger sister, who was found locked in a closet, was discovered on April 3 by the children’s grandmother. The grandmother, who had gone to check on the children after Virginia’s arrest for marijuana possession, immediately called 911.
The closet where the girl was found was described as being extremely small, measuring less than 5 feet by 2 feet, and was barricaded by heavy boxes. Medical staff determined that the girl weighed only 29 pounds and suffered from severe malnutrition, leading to permanent brain damage.
She was diagnosed with “moderate to severe cerebral atrophy.” The abuse was reportedly so severe that she will never recover from the damage caused by the prolonged neglect and starvation.
Court documents indicate that Virginia ordered her other children to lock the 7-year-old in the closet because she had bladder control issues and would eat things she shouldn’t.
One of the children told police that the girl was only given a single hot dog or corndog per day, along with half a cup of water. Despite the severe neglect of one child, the other six children were reportedly healthy. Investigators found that the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry in the home were fully stocked with food.
Arrest of Virginia Gonzales
Virginia Gonzales has been charged with serious bodily injury to a child and is being held at the Travis County Correctional Complex with a bond set at $75,000. Authorities are continuing their investigation and searching for Ava.