Texas girl, 12, dead from injury after parents treat with smoothies

Girl, 12, Dies After Parents Withhold Medical Treatment, Opt For Smoothies

Atascosa County, TX — A 12-year-old girl, Miranda Sipps, died on Monday after her mother and stepfather neglected to seek medical attention for her life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office.

Last Thursday, Sipps sustained severe and undisclosed injuries. Instead of seeking professional medical assistance, her mother and stepfather, Denise Balbaneda (36) and Gerald Gonzales (40), attempted to treat their child with smoothies for four days.

"She was not talking. She basically could flutter her eyes and move her hands a little bit...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." — Sheriff David Soward

On Monday, as Sipps struggled to breathe, her mother finally called 911, meeting emergency responders on the highway while driving to the hospital. Sipps was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the ER.

Balbaneda and Gonzales have been charged with a first-degree felony for injury to a child by omission. Investigators believe the couple avoided seeking medical help to prevent law enforcement from discovering their home.

The cause of Sipps' injuries is under investigation and is unrelated to her school, which started on Monday.

Miranda Sipps would have turned 13 this month.