U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Apprehends Mother to Close Child Abuse Awareness Month
Austin, TX – The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Apr. 24 arrested a mother sought by Austin Police for injury to a child following an incident Apr. 3 that resulted in the hospitalization of a 7-year-old victim.
Virginia Marie Gonzalez, 33, of Austin, is alleged to have committed injury to her child that was found malnourished, soiled and barricaded in a bedroom closet in the 5500 block of Ross Road. According to an affidavit by an investigator with the Austin PD Child Abuse Unit, Gonzalez barricaded her child in the closet for a month and fed her one corn dog and half a cup of water a day.
The victim was transported to Dell Children’s Medical Center with signs of malnourishment.
Following an investigation, the APD Child Abuse Unit obtained a warrant in the City of Austin Municipal Court and requested immediate assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force-Austin Division to locate and apprehend Gonzalez.
Members of the task force initiated a fugitive investigation and surrounded and arrested Gonzalez at the intersection of Cambourne Drive and Harris Ridge Blvd, following a fifteen-day investigation on her whereabouts.
Gonzalez was transported to the APD Child Abuse Unit and booked into the Travis County Jail where she will await judicial proceedings.
Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin:
- Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
- Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Department
- Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
- Texas Attorney General’s Office
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
- U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations
Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov
