7-year-old locked away in closet for weeks by her mom: Cops
Share and Follow

Virginia Gonzales (City of Austin/Austin Police Department).

A mother in Texas is facing felony charges for keeping her 7-year-old daughter locked away in a dark closet — with no access to food or a bathroom — because she had bladder issues and was “always getting into stuff,” according to the child’s siblings and police.

Virginia Gonzales, 33, is charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child after her daughter was found soiled and severely malnourished and weighing 29 pounds after spending several weeks inside of the closet, according to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate KVUE.

The girl was reportedly found by her grandmother at the mother’s residence in Austin.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Gonzales allegedly ordered the girl’s six siblings to keep her locked inside of the small space, which is approximately 3 feet by 1 foot, 10 inches, KVUE reports.

The children, which range in age from 2 to 14, told their grandmother that the girl was being punished by Gonzales for “getting into stuff” and eating things she was “not supposed to,” according to police.

The victim’s brother, who is 10, said the girl was allegedly only allowed to eat one corn dog a day and given a half-cup of water to drink. She defecated and urinated inside of the closet, according to her siblings.

Austin cops have placed the children in protective custody and are now looking for another girl, Ava, from the Gonzales family who’s been missing since 2017. She was 9 years old when she disappeared, according to a press release.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

LAPD Urgently Seeks Public’s Help to Identify Young Boy Found with Dog in Botched Car Theft

In a peculiar twist of events, a young boy and a dog…

Father’s NBA2K Rage Leads to Shocking Assault on 8-Month-Old Son, Witnesses Report

Inset: Jalin White (Milwaukee County Jail). Background: The Milwaukee home where White…

Unexpected Arrest: Homeless Man’s Attempt to Evade Panhandling Citation Leads to Warrant Discovery

By Staff Reporter GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities arrested 73-year-old Steven Michael Carter…

Local Man Faces Rape Charges Following Alleged Assault Incident

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a troubling incident on December 25, 23-year-old Travius…

New Video Emerges in Urgent Search for Missing Texas A&M Graduate, Sydney Marquez

New developments in the case of missing Texas A&M graduate Sydney Marquez…

Unmasking the Chaos: Biden-Appointed Judge Faces Allegations of Bullying and Unhinged Conduct

Left: President Joe Biden gives remarks on student debt relief at Delaware…

Judge Exposes Russ Vought’s Contradictions in DOJ’s Bid to Undermine Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Left: Judge Amy Berman Jackson at an awards breakfast for pro bono…

DOJ Warns of ‘Grave’ Consequences as Abrego Garcia Seeks Unprecedented Sanctions Against Trump Administration Over Fox News Comments

The Dec. 12, 2025, Fox News segment and Border Patrol Chief Gregory…