ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – According to KSAT records, authorities from the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home where a 12-year-old girl had been injured at least three times in the months before she died.

Records show officers were called to a home in Christine, south of Jourdanton, in March to check on the residents’ welfare and in November to a case of child injuries.

The girl, identified as Miranda Sipps, was pronounced dead Monday evening.

Her mother, 36-year-old Denise Balbaneda, and her stepfather, 40-year-old Gerald Gonzales, were charged with aggravated assault of a child by omission, according to the sheriff’s office.

Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward said Balbaneda and Gonzales are in the Atascosa County Jail on $200,000 bail each.

ACSO records show previous calls home

Records requested by KSAT from the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office show that three calls were made to the home before Monday.

• On March 28, officers were called for a welfare check after a “female” was seen with scratches, records show. An officer was dispatched to the home, and both a “male” and a “female” stated it was “all verbal.”

• On Nov. 1, Jourdanton Elementary School called Child Protective Services to report marks on a child. Child Protective Services called authorities to report the information, records show. No further information about the case was released in the documents.

• On October 29, a person called authorities to report that Gonzales was at the location and refusing to leave. Authorities responded and the parties were separated.

The sheriff’s office has not released any further information about the suspects in the case.

Investigation into the death of Miranda Sipps

The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Miranda’s death.

According to a news release, Balbaneda called 9-1-1 on Monday evening because her daughter was unconscious. Emergency responders advised Balbaneda, who was driving at the time of her call, to meet emergency responders at an intersection near the town of Christine.

Officers took Miranda, who was alive but unconscious, to a nearby hospital, where she died and investigators began questioning Balbaneda.

After speaking with Balbaneda, investigators determined that Miranda had suffered serious, life-threatening injuries on August 8.

Soward said Balbaneda and Gonzales did not help her even though she was unresponsive. According to ACSO, “the suspects told us how the injuries occurred and they told us they did nothing.”

The sheriff’s office said an autopsy report for the child is still pending.

Jourdanton ISD calls the case a “tragic loss”

On Wednesday, the school district made its first public statement about the incident, posting on Facebook that it is “currently grappling with the tragic loss of one of our middle school students.”

“Jourdanton ISD has a School Crisis Team comprised of professionals trained to assist students, parents/guardians, and school staff during difficult times such as these. The district is focused on providing resources for those in our community impacted by this loss. We have provided counselors in our junior high library for anyone who needs or wants help or support,” the post said.

The school district did not respond to KSAT’s requests for comment.

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