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Mother Sentenced for Daughter's Gruesome Murder
9 May
Summary
- Mother sentenced to 25 years to life for murder.
- Four-year-old daughter died from strangulation and wrist injuries.
- Child was found unresponsive in a car in East Los Angeles.
A mother has received a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder of her young daughter. Maria Del Refugio Avalos was found guilty of second-degree murder and assault on a child causing death earlier this year.
The victim, identified as 4-year-old Mia Gonzales, was found by deputies on January 25, 2024. Deputies responded to a call regarding a child assault in East Los Angeles and discovered Mia unresponsive in a vehicle. She was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
According to medical examiner records, the child died from the combined effects of strangulation and a sharp force injury to her wrist. Prosecutors indicated that Mia had been dead for several days when she was found, suggesting Avalos may have used the child in a dispute with the girl's father.
