Crystal Canales, Balch Springs, Texas mom charged in the death of malnourished, autistic teen daughter, Delilah Villegas. 19 year old had been ongoing disregarded and found with various injuries, including bruising, bedsores and contusions.
A North Texas woman has been charged in the death of her 19 year old daughter after calling 911 to report the teen girl was struggling breathing.
Crystal Canales, 41, of Balch Springs called 911 on Friday, February 14, saying that her daughter, Delilah Villegas, was having. trouble breathing, KDFW reported. First responders found Villegas already dead and estimated she had been dead for six to 24 hours prior to the 911 call.
When first responders arrived, they were directed to Villegas’ bedroom, where they noted a strong foul odor. The girl was found already deceased, lying on a concrete floor in a fetal position. Cops observed the teen being severely malnourished and having multiple bruises, contusions, and bedsores. Villegas also had exposed bones on her thigh, shoulder, hip, buttocks, hand, and ankle, WFAA reported.
Reckless conduct and parental disregard
According to police, the room contained a single mattress on the floor and two pallets of comforters, sheets, and pillows.
Police said Villegas last went to hospital in 2021, and the last medical call to the house came in May of that year. Canales said she hadn’t taken her daughter to a doctor because she became violent when she tried.
She also told detectives that she was breathing before first responders arrived and had eaten goldfish crackers earlier that day.
Family members told detectives that Villegas was severely autistic and non-verbal but had no other health conditions.
Detectives determined Canales’ failure to obtain medical care constituted reckless conduct leading to serious bodily injury to a disabled person under her care, a second-degree felony. She was arrested and charged a week later on Friday.
Canales was booked into the Balch Springs jail and will be transferred to Dallas County.
