Two Texas parents are facing charges in connection with the death of their 12-year-old daughter after trying to treat her life-threatening injuries with smoothies and vitamins.
Denise Balbaneda, 36, and Gerald Gonzales, 40, were arrested Tuesday and charged with negligent injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. Their bond was set at $200,000 each.
The child, identified as Miranda Sipps, a cheerleader at Jourdanton Junior High School, suffered life-threatening and serious injuries on Aug. 8 and was brought home by her mother and stepfather, according to New York Post. The parents then allegedly tried to treat the girl’s injuries with smoothies and vitamins instead of immediately taking her to a hospital.
SUSPECT, 78, CHARGED IN 44-YEAR-OLD TEXAS COLD CASE kidnapping, murder of nursing student
Denise Balbaneda, 36, and Gerald Gonzales, 40, were charged with negligent injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. (Atascosa County Sheriff)
The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Balbaneda called 911 at 8 p.m. Monday, four days after the girl was injured, to report that her daughter was experiencing breathing problems.
“The investigation revealed that the parents failed to seek medical attention for the girl, even though she was mentally and physically incapacitated and unresponsive,” the sheriff’s office said in the news release. “It appears the mother finally called 9-1-1 when the girl went into respiratory distress.”
Dispatchers told Balbaneda to pull her vehicle over to the side of a highway as she tried to drive her daughter to the hospital herself so EMS could meet her there and take the child to the hospital.
The mother called 911 around 8 p.m. Monday, four days after the girl was injured, to report her daughter was having respiratory problems. (iStock)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The girl, who was alive but unconscious when EMS reached her, was then taken to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the injuries that led to the child’s death.