Texas Mother Arrested After Daughter's Neglect Death

Crystal Canales, 41, has been arrested for serious bodily injury to a disabled person after her 19-year-old autistic daughter, Delilah Villegas, was found dead in their Balch Springs home on February 14. Canales had called 911 claiming her daughter was having difficulty breathing; however, first responders found Villegas already deceased, estimating she had been dead for six to 24 hours. Officers noted severe malnutrition, multiple bruises, contusions, and bedsores on Villegas, as well as exposed bones, indicating prolonged neglect. Canales admitted to treating Villegas' wounds with Neosporin and avoiding medical care due to her daughter's potential for violence. Despite this, detectives determined Canales' failure to seek medical attention was reckless. Villegas was last seen by a medical professional in 2021, and no medical calls had been made to their house since May of that year.