A 12-year-old cheerleader from Texas died this week after her parents attempted to treat her "serious life-threatening" injuries with smoothies and vitamins instead of seeking medical help.
Miranda Sipps, a student at Jourdanton Junior High in Christine, Texas, passed away in a hospital on Monday night, according to a news release from the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said Miranda was found unresponsive and in critical condition when emergency services arrived.
Texas Couple Failed to Seek Medical Help on Time
Sheriff David Soward stated that Miranda's mom, Denise Balbaneda, 36, and her stepfather, Gerald Gonzales, 40, were arrested and charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission.
According to the investigation, Miranda suffered severe injuries on Aug. 8, but her parents chose to keep her home instead of calling 911. Balbaneda and Gonzales allegedly provided Miranda with home remedies -- including a smoothie with some vitamins -- and even attempted to give her oxygen, the sheriff said.
Miranda was described as mentally and physically incapacitated, only able to move her eyes and hands during the four days leading up to her death. Sheriff Soward explained that the parents may have avoided calling for help to prevent drawing attention to their daughter's condition.
When Miranda's condition worsened, her mother then contacted emergency services on Monday night. However, by the time emergency medical services arrived, Miranda was already in an unconscious state.
She was quickly transported to Methodist Hospital in Atascosa, where she was declared dead, according to the news release.
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No Evidence of Drug or Alcohol Abuse at Miranda Sipp's Home
The investigation has not yet disclosed the exact nature of Miranda's injuries, but it has been confirmed that she did not have any visible fractures. Detectives are still working to determine the cause of Miranda's injuries and the full circumstances surrounding her death.
Balbaneda and Gonzales were taken into custody and are being held at the Atascosa County Jail.
According to My San Antonio, they each face a first-degree felony charge, which could result in a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years or even life in prison, along with a potential fine of up to $10,000. The charges are due to their failure to seek necessary medical care for Miranda despite her serious condition.
Law enforcement officials noted that the family's home was unkempt, but there were no other signs of drug or alcohol abuse found related to the case. Authorities also mentioned that there had been previous police visits to the family's home.
A fundraiser has been set up to help with funeral expenses, and the family has expressed their sorrow over the young girl's passing.
It remains uncertain if additional charges will be filed against the parents. The sheriff's office is withholding some information about Miranda's injuries while they work to complete their investigation and provide a full account of the incident.
