Austin Police Intensify Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Ava Marie Gonzales After Shocking Discovery in Closet Abuse Case
AUSTIN, TX – A renewed sense of urgency grips the Austin community as law enforcement officials intensify the search for 9-year-old Ava Marie Gonzales. The young girl has not been seen since 2017, but her disappearance has drawn fresh attention following the horrifying discovery of her younger sister locked in a closet, malnourished and severely neglected.
The investigation began in early April 2025 when the Austin Police Department responded to a child welfare call at an apartment located in the 5500 block of Ross Road. What officers found behind the door of that home left even the most seasoned responders shaken.
Inside a small, filthy closet, officers discovered a 7-year-old girl in critical condition. According to reports, the child was locked in the closet for nearly a month. She weighed just 29 pounds and had only been given one corn dog and half a cup of water daily. Medical experts later confirmed she was suffering from cerebral atrophy due to long-term starvation—damage that is likely permanent.
Although the home had food and other basic necessities, investigators believe the girl was deliberately singled out for abuse.
Six other children were found in the apartment and appeared physically healthy. Their mother, Virginia Gonzales, 33, was arrested on April 24 by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. She now faces charges of injury to a child resulting in serious bodily harm—a first-degree felony.
A Deeper Mystery Emerges
As detectives delved deeper into the family’s background, a disturbing question surfaced: Where is Ava Marie Gonzales?
According to police, Ava has not been seen since December 2017, when she was just 2 years old. The shocking closet abuse case prompted officials to revisit records and contact extended family members—only to find that no one had seen or heard from Ava in nearly eight years.
Detective Russell Constable of the Austin Police Department confirmed that Ava was born to Virginia Gonzales but stated, “We just don’t know where she is right now. The mother has given inconsistent accounts to different relatives over the years, making it difficult to trace Ava’s history or current whereabouts.”
The seriousness of the case prompted the police to release both original and age-progressed images of Ava, in hopes that someone in the community might recognize her. Ava is described as a Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes. The age-progressed image shows what she might look like today at age 9.
Public Urged to Come Forward
The Austin Police Department and community partners are urging anyone with information to come forward. Tipsters can call APD’s dedicated hotline at 512-974-5250, email ava@austintexas.gov, or provide anonymous information through Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS (8477).
“We are treating Ava’s case with the highest priority,” said Chief Joseph Chacon. “This child has been missing for years, and we will not rest until we determine what happened to her. We owe her—and the community—answers.”
Community Response
The revelations have sparked widespread outrage and heartbreak across the Austin area and beyond. Local advocates for child welfare and missing children are working closely with law enforcement to distribute flyers, circulate the age-progressed image, and raise awareness.
“This isn’t just a police matter—it’s a community matter,” said Rachel Martinez, director of Austin ChildWatch. “We must be vigilant. If someone knows anything, even if it seems small, they need to come forward. Ava deserves to be found.”
What’s Next?
Authorities are currently combing through years of social service records, medical files, and family contacts to piece together Ava’s last known movements. Meanwhile, Virginia Gonzales remains in custody as the investigation widens.
Though the road ahead may be long and filled with uncertainty, investigators and community members alike remain determined to find Ava Marie Gonzales and bring justice for her and her sister.