WACO, TX — The father of 2-year-old Frankie Gonzales has been arrested for intentionally leaving the child with the child's mother.
According to the arrest affidavit, investigators learned that Lorenzo Gonzales, Frankie's father, had signed an "safety plan" with the Department of Family and Protective Services on April 22 agreeing he would not leave the children unsupervised with Frankie's mother, Laura Villalon, also known as Laura Sanchez, due to risk of harm to the children.
In the plan, Lorenzo acknowledged that DFPS was concerned that he would leave his children to be in the care of people who are actively using drugs and would not be able to meet the needs of the children. DFPS was also concerned that Sanchez's drug use could cause the children harm.
Sanchez was only allowed supervised visits with the children. Supervised was defined as within sight at all times. Lorenzo agreed to notify the police and DFPS if Sanchez threatened to take the children unsupervised.
Lorenzo told investigators he left for work on May 28 at 7 a.m. and left all of the children unsupervised with Sanchez. Sanchez told officers Frankie died on May 28 and she disposed of his body on May 30.
Authorities also learned through the subsequent investigation that both surviving children tested for high levels of methamphetamine, indicating the children were recently in direct contact with the substance. The surviving children were placed in protective custody.
Lorenzo Gonzales was arrested on a 2nd degree felony warrant and is being charged with abandoning or endangering a child. He is also being held on an immigration detainer.
Frankie Gonzales was reported missing from Cameron Park by his mother on June 1. One day later, his body was found in a dumpster behind a church in the area of Park Lake Drive and Alice Avenue.
Laura Sanchez was arrested for first degree felony injury to a child in June. She has been booked into the McLennan County Jail. She was also arrested for a parole violation. In August, Laura was indicted for capital murder.
