An Atascosa County couple is facing charges in the death of a 12-year-old girl, Miranda Sipps, as they're due to appear in court today. Charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, the stepfather, Gerald Gonzales, 40, and the mother, Denise Balbaneda, 36, were arrested back on August 13 and each held on $200,000 bond, KSAT reports.
According to Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward, the ordeal began on Aug. 12 when Balbaneda called 911 to report that her daughter, a Jourdanton ISD student, was not breathing. Balbaneda was advised to stop her vehicle and meet EMS, Soward said, after which Miranda was pronounced dead despite being provided medical attention. The press release of the case, obtained by News 4 San Antonio, reveals that the 12-year-old sustained serious, life-threatening injuries nearly four days before her death on August 8, injuries that were not attended to by a medical professional.
Miranda, who was a cheerleader at Jourdanton Jr. High School, would have turned 13 later that month. After their arrest, both Gonzales and Balbaneda were released on bond, with Balbaneda being required to wear an ankle monitor as part of her bail condition. The investigation exposed that the suspects provided the girl with smoothies to ease symptoms after she was incapacitated, only seeking the required medical intervention when she began experiencing respiratory distress.
