Three Arrests Made In Southwest OKC Child Abuse Case

Police in Texas arrested the grandmother of a severely malnourished Oklahoma City girl Thursday. The girl's mother is also behind bars accused of forcing the girl to live in a closet with no more than a cup to go to the bathroom in.

Thursday, July 21st 2011, 10:33 pm

By: News 9


Michael Konopasek, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police in Texas arrested the grandmother of a severely malnourished Oklahoma City girl Thursday. The girl's mother is also behind bars accused of forcing the girl to live in a closet with no more than a cup to go to the bathroom in.

Police said the girl was abused just behind the walls of a home in the 1100 block of S.W. Grand Blvd.  the Department of Human Services was investigating a referral of possible child abuse or neglect when they found a five-year-old girl weighing just 19 pounds.

In the neighborhood, neighbors found the accusations shocking.

"I was in tears," said neighbor Maria Mendoza. "That really broke my heart."

Mendoza lives just two houses away from the home where the girl is believed to have been abused.

In all, police have arrested three people in connection with the abuse

  • The girl's mother, Asusena Gonzalez
  • The grandmother, Maria Gonzalez
  • A man who says he lived at the house a few days a week, Sergio Almeida

Police arrested Almeida for child neglect.

According to court documents, Asusena starved her daughter in a closet all because she looked like her father.

Police said there was a total of six children living with Asusena, but only the girl was malnourished.

Down the street, Mendoza, a mother herself, said it's unbelievable that anyone, especially a mother, could treat a child in such a way.

"She's not right in the head," said Mendoza. "She's not all there. She shouldn't even have kids."

Along with finding the girl in a closet full of urine and feces, police say the child also had cuts on her arms.

All six children were placed in DHS custody following the findings.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

July 21st, 2011

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024