A Texas woman is facing serious charges after the 16-year-old girl in her care was found dead, severely malnourished and suffering from brutal abuse.
On December 30, 2024, Tracy Gonzales, 48, was arrested in connection with the March 2024 death of Nayeli Perez, who weighed just 78 pounds when she died in her Houston home.
Police discovered the unresponsive teenager on March 25, 2024, after receiving a call about a deceased person.
When officers arrived at the home on East 32nd Street, they found Perez in her bedroom, wearing only a soiled diaper.
She was immediately pronounced dead at the scene. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences later ruled Perez’s death a homicide.
According to court documents, Perez had multiple disabilities, including a reading and math level comparable to that of a first grader.
Gonzales, who was responsible for Perez’s care, had been receiving disability payments for the teen but reportedly failed to provide proper nutrition or medical attention.
The investigation revealed disturbing details of the teen’s life leading up to her death.
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Court documents suggest that Gonzales admitted to disciplining Perez with a belt, often striking her without knowing where she was hitting. Gonzales reportedly justified the abuse due to Perez’s “inability to use the bathroom and eat food.”
The autopsy also showed signs of malnutrition, dehydration, and stab wounds to Perez’s genitals.
Gonzales is now facing charges of injury to a disabled person, as authorities accuse her of neglecting Perez’s basic needs and subjecting her to physical harm.
Perez had stopped attending school a year before her death, and neighbors were reportedly shocked by the news of the abuse.
One neighbor recalled Perez as a “normal girl,” adding that she had been diagnosed with autism.
Gonzales is being held on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on January 7, 2025.