Girl, 2, dies after mother allegedly turned blind eye to boyfriend beating toddler up because she didn't want him to go to jail

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:08, 15 August 2026 | Updated: 00:11, 15 August 2026 The two-year-old girl fighting for her life in Texas after her mother's boyfriend allegedly beat the toddler up has tragically died.  The daughter of Jazmin Cisneros, 28, died on Thursday after she was horrifically abused, allegedly at the hands of her mother's boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez. Cisneros and Gonzalez, 29, appeared at a Spring gas station in Harris County on the night of August 6, seeking help for the unresponsive toddler.  But after less than a week in hospital, the toddler passed away, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed.  According to prosecutors, Cisneros had known about prior abuse but failed to report it in an attempt to keep Gonzalez out of jail, ABC 13 reported.   The two-year-old, identified as Janessa Martinez, was discovered with multiple life-threatening injuries, Fox 26 reported.  According to court records reviewed by the Daily Mail, Gonzalez allegedly admitted to hitting the two-year-old in the head multiple times, punching her in the chest, lower back and bottom, and stomping on her pelvis.  The severe beating led to the toddler suffering a broken pelvis, lacerated liver and fractured skull, the court filing stated, adding that the child was 'not expected to survive.' Jazmin Cisneros, 28, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly failing to report that her boyfriend had been beating her two-year-old daughter, who died on Thursday afternoon The two-year-old, identified as Janessa Martinez, was discovered with multiple life-threatening injuries, including a broken pelvis, lacerated liver and fractured skull Cisneros's boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez, 29, allegedly admitted to punching the toddler in the head, stomach, lower back and bottom, and stomping on her pelvis  Gonzalez was arrested last Friday and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child. He was booked into the Harris County Jail on a $1 million bond, according to the jail's records.  After a four-day investigation, police determined that Cisneros allegedly did not seek medical attention for her child after becoming aware that the girl had been beaten.  The mother has not been accused of directly participating in the physical abuse but was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the same felony as Gonzalez on a $500,000 bond, jail records showed.  Prosecutors alleged at a hearing on Tuesday that the toddler had been physically abused multiple times in the past, but Cisneros failed to report any of the instances because she did not want Gonzalez to go to jail, ABC13 reported.  Cisneros's attorney James Stafford said Gonzalez had threatened the mother, allegedly using 'cartel connections' to intimidate her and threatening to kill her, Fox 26 reported.  'I'm concerned about her, as any mother would, knowing that you played a role in your child's death,' Stafford told reporters outside of the courtroom, according to the outlet.  'Just like the mother whose child drowned in the swimming pool - "Gosh, if I'd only been looking, that wouldn't have happened." That's something she's going to have to live with the rest of her life, regardless of what kind of punishment she gets.' Following Janessa's death, it remains unclear if additional charges will be made.  A GoFundMe by a man identified as Janessa's father, Norman Martinez, described the toddler as 'strong, beautiful and independent' Prosecutors alleged at a hearing on Tuesday that the toddler had been physically abused multiple times in the past, but Cisneros failed to report any of the instances because she did not want Gonzalez to go to jail  Martinez said that Janessa 'loves to sing, dance and bring joy to everyone around her' The Harris County Sheriff's Office stated that the case remains under investigation by homicide detectives.  According to court documents, Gonzalez has no prior convictions but has several previous arrests on record.  A GoFundMe by a man identified as Janessa's father, Norman Martinez, described the toddler as 'strong, beautiful and independent.' Martinez added that Janessa 'loves to sing, dance and bring joy to everyone around her.'  Tiffany Dupree, Assistant District Attorney with the Crimes Against Children division, said: 'I'm sure her life was a beautiful little life and she will be greatly missed.' 'Certainly the family and the friends of this child can know that we are going to fight for her, and we will seek justice for her to the fullest extent of the law,' Dupree added. Officials confirmed to Fox News that Cisneros's seven-year-old child was relocated to live with family in Chicago.