News Summary
The Austin Police Department is ramping up efforts to find 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales, missing since December 2017. Concerns over child abuse allegations have arisen, particularly following the arrest of her mother, Virginia Gonzales, for neglect. Investigators discovered troubling details about Ava’s home environment and her siblings’ wellbeing. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is aiding the search by releasing an age-progressed image of Ava. Authorities are urging the public for any information that could assist in locating her.
Austin, TX – The Austin Police Department is intensifying efforts to locate 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales, who has been missing since December 2017. Ava, who was last seen at the age of 2 in the custody of her mother, Virginia Gonzales, is now at the center of an urgent search amid growing concerns related to child abuse allegations involving her family.
Ava’s mother, Virginia Gonzales, 33, was arrested on April 24, 2025, following an unrelated incident concerning her 7-year-old child, found malnourished and locked in a closet. The child, who reportedly weighed only 29 pounds, has suffered from permanent brain damage due to prolonged starvation and malnutrition. This alarming discovery has raised serious concerns among investigators regarding Ava’s well-being.
During investigations, authorities found that Virginia Gonzales had failed to report Ava as missing and had given conflicting information to family members about her daughter’s whereabouts. Moreover, it has been revealed that none of Virginia’s children, including Ava, were enrolled in school, raising additional red flags about the family’s circumstances.
In the home where Virginia Gonzales lived, law enforcement officials discovered six other children aged between 2 and 14, who appeared to be in good physical condition. However, the distressing condition of Ava’s sibling has prompted significant concern for Ava’s safety. An affidavit has detailed that the 7-year-old was confined in a closet for approximately one month, receiving only one corn dog and a mere half cup of water each day, leading to a diagnosis of “moderate to severe cerebral atrophy” due to malnutrition.
To assist in the search for Ava, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released an age-progressed photograph to provide a clearer image of how she may look today. Ava Gonzales is described as a Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes; her current height and weight remain unknown.
The Austin Police Department is actively soliciting the public’s help in finding Ava. Individuals with any information regarding her whereabouts are encouraged to contact the department via email at ava@austintexas.gov or reach out to Crime Stoppers at 512-572-8477.
This ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Austin Police Department and the Department of Family and Protective Services, focusing on addressing the serious allegations of child neglect and abuse surrounding Ava and her siblings. Virginia Gonzales currently faces charges related to serious bodily injury to a child, and she is being held in the Travis County Jail with a bond set at $75,000.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are emphasizing the importance of community involvement in ensuring the safety of Ava and any potential outreach that might result in critical information leading to her recovery. The high-profile nature of this case highlights the urgency of locating Ava and addressing the concerning family dynamics that have come to light.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE News
- Wikipedia: Missing Person
- FOX 7 Austin
- Google Search: Ava Marie Gonzales case
- CBS Austin
- Google Scholar: Child Neglect Cases
- ABC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas Child Protection Cases
- KXAN News
- Google News: Ava Marie Gonzales Austin
