BALCH SPRINGS, Texas (TCN) — A woman was arrested after her 19-year-old nonverbal daughter, who appeared severely malnourished and almost in a “mummified state,” was found dead on the floor this month.
Balch Springs Police Public Information officer Pedro Gonzalez shared details at a press conference over the weekend about the investigation, which began on the afternoon of Feb. 14 when Crystal Canales called 911 to report her daughter was unresponsive. The fire department and paramedics arrived intending to perform CPR on the victim, but she was already deceased. The fire department contacted the Balch Springs Police Department after finding the victim, identified by KDFW-TV as Delilah Villegas, “curled up” on the floor.
Gonzalez said officers initially believed Villegas had been dead for about four hours because rigor mortis had set in, but the medical examiner determined it was more likely somewhere between six and 24 hours. Responding officers thought Villegas was 13 years due to her size and appearance. According to Gonzalez, Villegas was “skin-to-bone” and had large lacerations on her body that exposed limbs and bones. One of her shoulder bones was reportedly “protruding out,” and KDFW reports Villegas’ skin was covered in bed sores.
Gonzalez described, “She looked like she was in a mummified state on the floor.”
Villegas lived in a home with her Canales, her grandmother, and her great-uncle. Her family told investigators that Villegas was autistic, nonverbal, and had a tendency to become “extremely violent” with family members by kicking and punching them.
Gonzalez said, “Our victim was very aggressive toward family members and sometimes they would be discouraged to interact with our victim.”
Canales was arrested on a charge of serious bodily injury to a disabled person. She is in custody at the Balch Springs City Jail awaiting transfer to the Dallas County Jail.
Gonzalez said at the press conference that family described Canales as a “great mother” who was “there literally 24 hours caring for her child.” Investigators are looking into how Villegas’ condition got to the point that it did.
He shared, “If someone would have noticed or would have been concerned about the child, they could have easily called 911. We would have responded and personally checked on the victim, and maybe we wouldn’t be here if that would have happened.”