A Texas mother has been arrested for allegedly failing to report her boyfriend's severe abuse of her two-year-old daughter, according to authorities. The child remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Jazmin Cisneros, 28, and her boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez, 29, brought the severely injured toddler to a gas station in Spring, Texas, north of Houston, on Thursday evening. Staff at the gas station called 911. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated that deputies arrived and began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The child was transported to a local hospital and later airlifted for surgery.
According to court records, Gonzalez allegedly admitted to repeatedly hitting the toddler in the head, punching her in the chest, lower back, and buttocks, and stomping on her pelvis. The abuse resulted in a broken pelvis, a lacerated liver, and a fractured skull. A court filing indicated the child was not expected to survive.
Gonzalez was arrested Friday and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child. He is being held in the Harris County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Following a four-day investigation, Cisneros was arrested Tuesday and charged with the same felony. She is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Prosecutors allege that Cisneros was aware of the abuse and failed to seek medical attention for her daughter or report the incidents to authorities because she did not want Gonzalez to go to jail. She is not accused of directly participating in the physical abuse.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office stated that homicide detectives are investigating the case. "Our thoughts are with this young toddler as she continues to fight for her life," the sheriff said in a statement. "Cases involving children are among the most heartbreaking first responders encounter, and we remain committed to seeking justice on her behalf."
Under Texas law, causing serious injury to a child is a first-degree felony, punishable by five years to life in prison. The toddler's mother and her boyfriend could face modified charges if the child dies.