A tragic case in Texas has led to the arrest of a mother and stepfather after their 12-year-old daughter, Miranda Sipps, died from severe injuries that went untreated for four days. According to a report by Law and Crime on Thursday, August 15, 2024, the parents allegedly chose to keep Miranda at home, feeding her smoothies while she lay unconscious on a makeshift “pallet,” rather than seeking the medical attention she desperately needed.
Miranda, a student at Jourdanton Junior High School, was remembered by friends and teachers as a vibrant and spirited young girl who loved cheerleading and was eagerly anticipating her 13th birthday, just weeks away. However, her life was tragically cut short on Monday, August 12, 2024, due to injuries she sustained four days earlier.
Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward revealed that Miranda’s mother, 36-year-old Denise Balbaneda, and stepfather, 40-year-old Gerald Gonzales, failed to seek medical help until it was too late. Instead of taking her to the hospital, they attempted to “nurse her back to health” at home, a decision that proved fatal.
The dire situation only came to light on Monday evening when Balbaneda finally called 911, reporting that her daughter was in respiratory distress. She drove to a nearby intersection to meet emergency medical services (EMS), but by the time they arrived, Miranda was already unconscious. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, she was pronounced dead shortly before 10 p.m.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sheriff Soward disclosed that Miranda had suffered “life-threatening” injuries that left her mentally and physically incapacitated. For four agonizing days, she lay on a “pallet” in the family’s “unkempt” and “untidy” home, unable to speak or move, with only slight fluttering of her eyes and minimal hand movements.
The exact nature of Miranda’s injuries remains unclear. Sheriff Soward confirmed that they did not involve broken bones and had “nothing to do with school,” which had not yet resumed after the summer break. The parents, however, chose not to seek medical help, fearing the attention it might bring to their household. “Basically, they thought they could nurse her back to health,” Sheriff Soward explained. “We do not think they wanted the attention that this would draw to them if the little girl was injured.”
During the four days that Miranda lay unconscious, her parents made futile attempts to care for her, including providing her with oxygen and trying to feed her smoothies laced with vitamins. However, as Sheriff Soward pointed out, “Somebody that is unconscious is not able to swallow.”
When asked about the parents’ remorse, Sheriff Soward’s response was chilling. He initially noted “a little bit, maybe,” but quickly clarified that Balbaneda showed “not really” any remorse, while Gonzales displayed some, though not to the extent expected from grieving parents. “Not like you, or I, or any of us probably would,” he added, emphasizing their cold and detached attitude.
Balbaneda and Gonzales have been charged with a first-degree felony of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission. “They told us how the injuries happened, and they told us they failed to act,” Sheriff Soward said. “Throw out how the injuries occurred. You still have a duty as a parent to provide medical care for a 12-year-old child. That’s what we’re talking about right here.”
The sheriff has not disclosed specific details about how Miranda’s injuries were sustained, citing the ongoing investigation. Both Balbaneda and Gonzales remain in custody, each held on a $200,000 bond, with the possibility of more serious charges, such as murder, depending on the autopsy results and further evidence.