A Texas woman, Tracy Gonzales, is facing charges after the tragic death of her 16-year-old foster daughter, Nayeli Perez, who was found dead in her bedroom weighing just 78 pounds. The Houston police investigation revealed that Gonzales had been caring for Nayeli, who had disabilities, and was receiving disability checks meant for her care. The investigation began after a call was made to authorities about a deceased person in the 700 block of East 32nd Street in Houston on March 25. When officers arrived, they discovered Nayeli’s body showing signs of “unknown injuries,” and an autopsy later determined her death to be a homicide.
Gonzales, 48, has been charged with injury to a disabled person with serious bodily injury. Over the following months, investigators uncovered the disturbing details surrounding Nayeli’s decline. At some point, Gonzales was granted custody of the girl, but despite her deteriorating health, Gonzales allegedly failed to seek help or inform authorities. According to the investigation, Gonzales feared losing custody of her own children and reportedly admitted to physically disciplining Nayeli with a belt. Gonzales allegedly stated that she would strike Nayeli without knowing exactly where she hit her, citing Nayeli’s inability to perform basic tasks such as using the bathroom or eating food.
When officers found Nayeli’s body, she was only wearing a diaper, and all her clothes were soiled. Authorities also discovered evidence of stab wounds to her genitals, severe malnutrition, and dehydration. Gonzales claimed that she had been away from home all day and returned to find Nayeli’s body “a little hard.” The girl, who had the cognitive abilities of a first grader, had been showing signs of neglect for months. Her weight had dropped significantly, from about 118 pounds in February 2022 to just 78 pounds at the time of her death.
Neighbors of the family reported that Nayeli had stopped attending school about a year before her death. One neighbor, Frank Rodriguez, who had a daughter who attended school with Nayeli, mentioned that Gonzales had always provided excuses as to why Nayeli was missing classes. Rodriguez said that prior to Nayeli’s absence from school, nothing seemed unusual about the family’s situation.
The details of Nayeli’s abuse and neglect are heartbreaking. She had been in Gonzales’ care for an unspecified amount of time, but Gonzales allegedly failed to seek medical help or alert authorities as the girl’s health worsened. The disability checks intended to support Nayeli’s care were reportedly cashed by Gonzales, who may have been using them for her own benefit rather than for the well-being of the girl she was entrusted to care for.
Gonzales is currently being held in the Harris County Jail on a $200,000 bond. Her next court date is scheduled for January 7, where she will face the charges related to the death of Nayeli Perez. This case has raised questions about the responsibility of foster parents and the systems in place to protect vulnerable children with disabilities. The community remains shaken by the tragic loss of a young girl who was entrusted to the care of someone who failed to protect her.
