Parents charged in connection with their daughter's death released on bail

Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward and Deputy Jake Guerra brief the media on August 14 on the tragic loss of a Jourdanton Junior High cheerleader, which led to the arrest of her mother and stepfather in connection with the death. DANIEL ELIZONDO | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Both the mother and stepfather of 12-year-old Miranda Sipps, who died Aug. 12 at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, were released from jail on bail over the weekend, according to ACSO Sheriff David Soward. Sipps was a student at Jourdanton Junior High and was a cheerleader.

The mother, Denise Balbaneda, 36, and stepfather, Gerald Gonzales, 40, were both charged with child injury by omission as a result of an ACSO investigation that was launched after the young girl was found with injuries that left her unconscious for four days. The charge is a first-degree felony.

According to Sheriff Soward, Sipps was found unconscious and unresponsive but alive by her mother on August 8. She had severe injuries to her neck, as determined by an autopsy on Tuesday, August 13.

“Balbaneda and her boyfriend (Gonzales) did not seek medical attention for Sipps,” Soward said. “One of our main focuses is to determine exactly how Sipps sustained this injury. Evidence suggests they waited over four full days after the initial incident before seeking medical attention.”

Miranda Sipps

Soward said the mother and stepfather tried to give Sipps smoothies, vitamins and supplements even though she was unconscious.

On August 12 at approximately 8:02 p.m., ACSO received a 911 call from a residence in Christine requesting medical assistance for a 12-year-old girl who was not breathing.

After the call, Balbaneda reportedly put Sipps in a car and drove to the nearest hospital, about 10 miles from her home.

Balbaneda stopped near the intersection of Texas Highway 16 and FM 140 to meet with emergency services that had already been dispatched.

There, the emergency services took care of the unresponsive child and took him as quickly as possible to Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, where medical staff in the emergency room continued to treat the still unresponsive Sipps. These resuscitation attempts were ultimately unsuccessful and Sipps was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m.

“As far as we know, Sipps never regained consciousness during those four days,” Soward said.

The ACSO investigation revealed that Sipps was being kept on a cot in an unkempt home.

Both Balbaneda and Gonzales were arrested without incident at their home on Tuesday afternoon, August 13, and bail for both was set at $200,000. Both were released on $200,000 bail.

Both Child Protective Services and ACSO are conducting parallel investigations.

“It was only when Sipps stopped breathing completely that Balbaneda finally attempted to get her daughter medical attention, and by then it was far too late,” Soward continued. “The most basic responsibility of a parent is to protect their child from harm and to provide assistance when a child is facing an immediate and fatal health crisis. In this case, that did not happen.”

Sipps' family has set up a GoFundMe page.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beloved niece Miranda. She was taken from us far too soon and in an unexpected way, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter and memories that we will cherish forever.”

Dr. Tracy Canter, superintendent of Jourdanton ISD, said the district is currently coping with the tragic loss of one of its students.

Canter said the district has a school crisis team made up of professionals trained to help students, parents/guardians and school staff during difficult times like these.

“The district is focused on providing resources to those in our community who have been impacted by this loss,” Canter said. “We have provided counselors in our middle school library for anyone who needs or wants help or support and have made additional resources available to members of the school community.”