Mother Arrested in Heartbreaking Tragedy: 19-Year-Old Autistic Daughter Found Dead

Balch Springs mother arrested after her 19-year-old daughter with severe autism is found deceased under conditions of severe malnutrition and neglect.

Balch Springs, TX

A tragic incident has rocked Balch Springs as authorities arrested a local mother following the discovery of her 19-year-old daughter, Delilah Villegas, who had severe autism, found dead under appalling conditions. On February 14, at approximately 2:33 p.m., Balch Springs police responded to a 911 call from Crystal Canales on Horseshoe Trail, who reported that her daughter was having difficulty breathing.

When officers arrived at the scene, they were met with a powerful odor emanating from Delilah's bedroom. There, they found her body in a near-fetal position on the floor—a scene marked by a single mattress and two pallets filled with comforters, sheets, and pillows. Medical personnel later confirmed that Delilah had no vital signs and estimated that she had been deceased for anywhere between six and 24 hours.

A subsequent examination of her body revealed distressing signs of neglect. Delilah's condition was described as “skin to bone” by Officer Pedro Gonzalez, who noted severe malnutrition, multiple wounds, and exposed bones along her right thigh, shoulder, hip, buttocks, hand, and ankle. The outline of her body left on the concrete floor suggested that she had remained in the same position for an extended period. In fact, initial impressions by responding officers led them to mistakenly believe she was much younger than her actual age, owing to her debilitated state.

Family accounts paint a heartbreaking picture. Neighbors and relatives recalled that Delilah, who was non-verbal and wore a diaper, sometimes exhibited extreme aggression, which included violent outbursts both at home and during an incident on a school bus. Despite these challenges, records indicate that her last hospital visit and the previous call for service at Canales’ residence date back to 2021. Canales admitted that she did not seek medical attention for Delilah's worsening condition, a failure that investigators believe constitutes reckless conduct resulting in serious bodily injury to a disabled person—a charge classified as a second-degree felony.

Crystal Canales, 41, was arrested on Friday and is currently being held at the Balch Springs Jail while awaiting transfer to the Dallas County Jail. Investigators have also disclosed that Delilah’s grandmother and great-uncle, who also resided in the home, may face further scrutiny, although no charges have been confirmed against them at this time.

The local community is in mourning. Neighbors expressed shock and sorrow over the tragedy, with one resident lamenting, "I never really noticed her before, but now it's unbearable to think about what she must have suffered.” Delilah's aunt, Yajaira Pardo, voiced a deep sense of loss and disbelief, questioning how such a devastating situation could have unfolded while recalling the joyful moments of Delilah's childhood.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office is currently investigating to determine the precise cause of Delilah’s death, leaving many questions unanswered as the community grapples with the profound loss.