Family members are grappling with shock and grief following the tragic murder of a four-year-old girl, Mia Gonzalez, in East Los Angeles, allegedly at the hands of her own mother. Mia was found unresponsive inside a car with her mother, and investigators believe she was strangled by her mother, 38-year-old Maria Avalos. The East LA sheriff’s station received a call of a child assault on Civic Center Way, leading deputies to discover Mia and her mother in the car. The coroner determined that Mia had been strangled, and Avalos was subsequently arrested for murder.
Mia’s godmother, Noemi Lopez, expressed disbelief over the tragic incident, describing Mia as a “really good kid” and the “light of [her] home.” Mia’s father, speaking in Spanish, acknowledged problems with Avalos but never anticipated such a devastating outcome. Family members revealed that Avalos had left with her daughter in the car early in the week, and attempts to contact her were unsuccessful. According to the family, investigators indicated that Avalos might have been driving around with the deceased child for several days before being discovered.
Expressing frustration, Lopez mentioned that Avalos should have asked for help and called for support. The family has set up a GoFundMe to assist with funeral expenses. The case is set to be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for review. The community has responded to the heartbreaking incident by placing candles and flowers at a memorial for Mia at the family’s home.