A Los Angeles jury on Thursday convicted Maria Del Refugio Avalos of second-degree murder and assault on a child in the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Mia Gonzalez, closing a grim chapter that has gripped East LA since early this year. Mia’s body was found inside a vehicle in East Los Angeles after worried relatives reported they could not reach the family. Avalos now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
The verdict came after prosecutors argued Avalos was responsible for Mia’s death in January 2024, with jurors ultimately finding her guilty of second-degree murder and assault on a child causing death, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
How Investigators Say Mia Died
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies found Mia unresponsive in a parked vehicle in the 4800 block of Civic Center Way, and she was later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Times. The county medical examiner determined her cause of death was the combined effects of strangulation and a sharp force injury to her wrist, the outlet reported.
Legal Process And What Comes Next
Avalos’s convictions on second-degree murder and assault on a child causing death leave her facing 25 years to life in state prison, with sentencing set for May, per ABC7 Los Angeles. She remained in custody following her arrest and later entered a not guilty plea, according to KNX News.
Family Reaction
Relatives told reporters they had been trying to contact Avalos for days before Mia was found and later organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the child’s funeral expenses, local coverage showed. Family members described being devastated and in shock, and some said Avalos had been struggling in the period leading up to Mia’s death, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles.
