In Texas, a 12-year-old girl died after her parents allegedly tried using smoothies and vitamins to cure her potentially fatal injuries. People are outraged by the occurrence, and many are calling for severe punishments for those responsible.
The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that they received a call from a woman asking for medical help. The mother was then "told to stop her vehicle, and the EMS met her," according to the dispatchers. The victim, a cheerleader, was discovered inside the car unconscious but still alive.
The sheriff's office quickly began an inquiry to learn more about the "circumstances surrounding the child's injuries" as she was being taken to the closest hospital for treatment. Later that night, she was declared dead even though the hospital emergency staff had been trying "vigorously" to treat the victim.
The child had suffered life-threatening injuries, said to the investigation's lead sergeant investigator Robert Newman, but the parents "failed to seek medical assistance for the girl, even though she was mentally and physically incapacitated and non-responsive." Her mother summoned the emergency services at the point when the girl first experienced respiratory trouble.
The deceased child's mother and stepfather were accused of injuring a child by neglect that resulted in serious bodily harm. Following this, the couple was brought to the Atascosa County Jail after being detained at their home. Denise Balbaneda, age 36, and Gerald Gonzales, age 40, are the individuals in question.
As they finished up their piece, the department stated that the "investigation is ongoing and the final autopsy report is pending." They also exchanged images of the accused.
People have responded to the incident by posting comments on social media.
“Why is she smiling in her mugshot,” posted a Facebook user. “So sad, such a horrible situation,” added another. A third person commented, “They show no remorse.” A fourth expressed, “She was just a baby.” A fifth wrote, “This is so sad for this little girl. She suffered for days and the mom did nothing to help her child.”
“She was not talking. She basically could flutter her eyes and move her hands a little bit over a four-day period,” Sheriff David Soward discussed the girl's health with NBC News, stating that before her mother alerted the authorities, "And they had her laying on a pallet in the house.”
The mother allegedly expressed “little to no remorse” for her daughter's passing. The stepfather “displayed some remorse”.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)