Mother Sentenced for Murdering Her Daughter
A woman from Los Angeles, found guilty of killing her 4-year-old daughter, broke down in court as she received her sentence on Friday.
Maria del Refugio Avalos, 40, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carla Carlin for the murder of her daughter, Mia Gonzalez.
Avalos wept and clutched tissues during the hearing, responding as family members shared their heartbreaking victim impact statements, expressing their grief and outrage over the tragic loss of Mia. On March 19, Avalos was found guilty of second-degree murder and child assault resulting in death.
Mia’s father, Jose Gonzalez, cried openly in court, receiving support from relatives as he struggled with the emotional weight of the situation. He expressed confusion and sorrow, saying if it had to be someone, why wasn’t it Maria instead of their little girl?
Gonzalez mentioned that he was unable to sleep or work and felt that the murder had completely destroyed his life.
Mia’s godmother also addressed the court, saying she wished Avalos to spend her life in prison following the girl’s death. Avalos, while remorseful, did not provide any reasoning for her actions.
The sentence handed down was the harshest permissible under state law, which also mandated Avalos be held before her transfer to a state prison.
On January 25, 2024, Mia was discovered unresponsive in a car with her mother in East Los Angeles, having been strangled.
According to reports, Avalos had been dealing with personal challenges prior to the incident and had left with Mia earlier that week. Family members were informed by police that Avalos may have driven around with Mia’s body for several days before her arrest.
A family friend, Noemi Lopez, remembered Mia as a bright child who had brought joy to her life, expressing disbelief that such a tragedy occurred. She shared that they had attempted to reach out to Avalos, who had mentioned needing space amid struggles but had not responded for two days.
The coroner’s records indicated that Mia died due to a combination of strangulation and injuries from sharp force to her wrist. Avalos has remained in custody since her arrest.
