Tragically, a young girl from Texas lost her life due to the alleged negligence of her mother and stepfather, who failed to seek medical help for her severe injuries. This heartbreaking incident occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 14, according to authorities.
A statement from the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office reported the unfortunate passing of a young cheerleader from Jourdanton Jr. High School on Monday, Aug. 12.
An investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigation Division revealed that the girl sustained severe life-threatening injuries on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 8, four days before her unfortunate demise.
“The investigation revealed the parents failed to seek medical assistance for the girl, even though she was mentally and physically incapacitated and non-responsive. It appears the mother finally called 9-1-1 when the girl went into respiratory distress,” the statement read in part.
During a news conference, Sheriff David Soward mentioned that the parents attempted to care for their child at home while she was mostly unconscious.
“Essentially, their intention was to care for her and avoid any unnecessary attention that could arise if the little girl was harmed. It’s quite ironic, but that was their thought process,” he explained.
Soward provided limited information regarding Sipps’ injuries and their cause, acknowledging his uncertainty. He mentioned that she displayed slight movements of fluttering her eyes and hands when discovered by the authorities. Soward also mentioned his belief that the parents managed to provide her with oxygen at some stage.
A mother and stepfather from Christine, identified as Denise Balbaneda, 36, and Gerald Gonzales, 40, were arrested on Aug. 13 and booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
The individuals have been accused of committing a severe offense by neglecting their duty to protect a child, which is considered a serious crime according to the sheriff’s office.
According to the authorities, they were alerted to the situation when the victim’s mother called 9-1-1 from their home. They then met the mother on the way to the hospital, and Sipps was taken to Methodist Hospital in Atascosa by EMS.
Soward suggested that the mother departed from the residence due to her desire to avoid law enforcement presence.
The medical staff made every effort to treat the pre-teen, but unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The woman passed away at 9:55 p.m. local time.
The investigation is still ongoing and the final autopsy report is pending, according to the sheriff’s office.