Austin police are intensifying efforts to locate 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales, who hasn’t been seen since 2017, following the recent discovery of her younger sister in severely abusive conditions.
Ava was last seen by relatives in December 2017, when she was just 2 years old and living with her mother, Virginia Gonzales. Her disappearance resurfaced after authorities rescued a malnourished 7-year-old girl—Ava’s sibling—who was found locked in a barricaded closet in early April.
According to Austin police, officers responded to a home in Del Valle on April 3 after receiving a 911 call about the child. She was found soiled, emaciated, and confined to a small closet space measuring roughly 4 feet, 9 inches by 1 foot, 10 inches, blocked by heavy boxes. The child told investigators she had been surviving on a single corn dog or hot dog each morning and just half a cup of water daily.
While six other children were also present in the home, police said they appeared physically healthy. However, none of the children were enrolled in school, raising further concern.
The disturbing discovery prompted investigators to revisit Ava’s case, which had gone dormant for years. Police confirmed Ava has not been seen in over seven years, and her mother had never reported her missing.
Virginia Gonzales, 33, was arrested on April 24 and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child in connection with the abuse of the 7-year-old. She remains held at the Travis County Correctional Complex on a $75,000 bond.
Authorities released photos of Ava from 2017, when she was about 18 months and 2 years old, along with an age-progressed image showing what she may look like today at age 9. She is described as having straight brown hair and brown eyes. No current height or weight estimate is available.
Anyone with information about Ava Marie Gonzales’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Austin Police Department immediately.
