A Texas mother allegedly failed to report repeated abuse against her 2-year-old daughter because she did not want her boyfriend sent to jail, authorities said. Now, both adults are facing criminal charges.
Jazmin Cisneros, 28, and her boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez, 29, arrived at a gas station in Spring, just north of Houston, at about 8:20 p.m. Thursday with the critically injured toddler, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
The pair were looking for help for the child, prompting people at the gas station to call 911.
Deputies who responded found the girl unresponsive and immediately began lifesaving efforts while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
The toddler was first taken to a local hospital, where doctors determined she had suffered life-threatening injuries. She was later flown to another medical facility for surgery and remained in critical condition as of Tuesday evening.
Court records reviewed by Our News Outlet allege that Gonzalez admitted striking the child in the head multiple times, punching her in the chest, lower back and buttocks, and stomping on her pelvis.
The attack left the toddler with a broken pelvis, a lacerated liver and a fractured skull, according to the court filing, which stated that the child “is not expected to survive.”
Gonzalez was arrested Friday and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child. Harris County Jail records show he was booked on a $1 million bond.
Jazmin Cisneros, 28, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly failing to report that her boyfriend had been beating her two-year-old daughter
Cisneros’s boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez, 29, allegedly admitted to punching the toddler in the head, stomach, lower back and bottom, and stomping on her pelvis
After a four-day investigation, police determined that Cisneros allegedly did not seek medical attention for her child after becoming aware that the girl had been beaten.
The mother has not been accused of directly participating in the physical abuse.
Cisneros was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the same felony as her boyfriend. She was booked into the same jail on a $500,000 bond, according to the jail’s records.
Prosecutors alleged at a hearing on Tuesday that the toddler had been physically abused multiple times in the past, but Cisneros failed to report any of the instances because she did not want Gonzalez to go to jail, ABC13 reported.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office stated that the case remains under investigation by homicide detectives.
‘Our thoughts are with this young toddler as she continues to fight for her life,’ said the Harris County sheriff.
‘Cases involving children are among the most heartbreaking first responders encounter, and we remain committed to seeking justice on her behalf,’ the sheriff added.
According to court documents, Gonzalez has no prior convictions but has several previous arrests on record.
Prosecutors alleged that Cisneros failed to report previous times that her boyfriend beat her daughter because she did not want him to go to jail. The mother is pictured standing in court
The couple arrived at this gas station in Spring, Texas, Thursday night seeking help for the injured two-year-old. Police are pictured at the gas station
The most notable arrest was for making a terroristic threat against a public servant in Webb County, but the charge was dismissed in 2016.
Under Texas law, causing serious injury to a child is a first-degree felony punishable by a minimum of five years in prison or a maximum of life in prison. The exact sentence depends heavily on court proceedings.
If the toddler dies in the hospital, her mother and the woman’s boyfriend will likely have their charges modified.
