Pre-Teen Texas Cheerleader Dies After Parents Attempt to Use Smoothies to Treat Her ‘Life-Threatening’ Injuries, Sheriff Says
Denise Balbaneda (left) and Gerald Gonzalez (right) were arrested after their 12-year-old died at home from 'life-threatening' injuries they treated with smoothies and vitamins, officials said.
Aug. 15 2024, Published 2:02 p.m. ET
A pre-teen cheerleader from Texas died days after her parents attempted to treat her “life-threatening” injuries with smoothies and vitamins, according to authorities.
According to the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office, Miranda Sipps, a 12-year-old student at Jourdanton Junior High School, was prounced dead in the hospital on Aug. 12. Her mother, according to the sheriff's office, called 911 on the evening of Aug. 12 only after the girl went into respiratory distress.
Sipps’ mother, Denise Balbaneda, and 40-year-old stepfather, Gerald Gonzalez, were both arrested for failing to seek medical help in time to save the life of the “mentally and physically incapacitated and non-responsive" child, according to law enforcement officials.
Sheriff David Soward claimed the couple did not want to draw attention to the girl’s condition, which he provided no further updates on except to note she did not have any broken notes.
EMS rushed MIranda to Methodist Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Detectives determined Miranda had suffered her “serious life-threatening” injuries four days prior, on the evening of Aug. 8, the sheriff said.
Before the girl died, Soward claimed, the mother and stepfather fed the girl smoothies and vitamins despite although she could only “flutter her eyes and move her hands a little bit," My San Antonio reported.
“Basically they thought they could nurse her back to health and we do not think they wanted the attention that this would draw if the little girl was injured,” the sheriff said. “Which is strangely ironic, but that was their line of thinking.”
Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.
Balbaneda and Gonzalez were arrested and each charged with a first-degree felony charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission.
The investigation is ongoing pending autopsy results.
Become a Front Page Detective
Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.