ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – Two Atascosa County parents were charged in connection with the death of their 12-year-old daughter, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward said the girl, Miranda Sipps, died on Monday evening. She would have turned 13 years old later this month, Soward said.
Her mother, 36-year-old Denise Balbaneda and stepfather, 40-year-old Gerald Gonzales, were charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, according to the sheriff’s office.
Soward said Balbaneda and Gonzales are in the Atascosa County Jail on a bond of $200,000 each.
Watch Soward’s full press conference below.
In a Tuesday news release, the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation was underway regarding the child’s death.
According to the release, Balbaneda called 9-1-1 Monday evening concerning her unconscious daughter. Dispatchers advised Balbaneda to meet EMS at an intersection near the town of Christine.
Officials transported Miranda, who was alive but unconscious, to a nearby hospital, where she died, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators began questioning Balbaneda at the scene.
After speaking with the Balbaneda, investigators determined that Miranda received serious, life-threatening injuries on Thursday evening, the sheriff’s office said.
Balbaneda and Gonzales “failed to seek medical assistance for the girl, even though she was mentally and physically incapacitated and non-responsive,” the release said.
Balbaneda ultimately called 9-1-1 on Monday after Miranda had gone into distress.
The pair were arrested Tuesday afternoon at their residence without incident.
The sheriff’s office investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy report for the child is pending.