12-Year-Old Girl Dies After Parents Neglect Treatment for Life-Threatening Injuries

A 12-year-old South Texas girl, Miranda Sipps, died last week after her mother and stepfather neglected to seek medical treatment for her life-threatening injuries for four days, instead attempting to heal her with smoothies and vitamins, according to authorities.

Miranda was found in critical condition on Monday, struggling to breathe when her mother finally called 911, as stated by the Atascosa County sheriff's office, about 45 miles south of San Antonio. Emergency responders met Miranda and her mother on the highway while en route to a hospital. Miranda was pronounced dead in the emergency room shortly after arrival.

The sheriff's office reported that Miranda had suffered life-threatening injuries the previous Thursday, though the specific condition was not disclosed. For the next four days, Miranda’s mother and stepfather failed to seek medical assistance, instead treating her with smoothies.

“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 said at a news conference. “And they had her laying on a pallet in the house. They were trying to give her smoothies, but somebody who is unconscious is not able to swallow,” Soward added.

The mother, Denise Balbaneda, 36, and the stepfather, Gerald Gonzales, 40, were arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with injury to a child by omission, a first-degree felony.

Investigators suspect the couple avoided seeking medical attention to prevent law enforcement from coming to their home. Even after calling 911, Balbaneda chose to leave their house and meet emergency responders on the road.

The cause of Miranda's injuries remains under investigation. Soward declined to provide further details, stating only that they were not related to her school, where classes began Monday.

“This is not something we typically run across or have, but in this business it’s always that way,” Soward said. “The next call’s going to be something strange or something you’ve never dealt with before, and this case here is a good example of that.”

Miranda would have turned 13 this month.