The Brownwood Police Department issued the following press release Wednesday:

On December 10, 2024, the Brownwood Police Department received a report from Child Protective Services of a complaint alleging child abuse at a south Brownwood residence.

Detectives from the Brownwood Police Department Criminal Investigation Division were provided with an intake sheet and photographs of the child victim’s injuries.  An investigation commenced immediately. 

The child victim was located, and multiple injuries were observed about her head, face, and buttocks.  Detectives interviewed the child victim’s mother, stepfather, and their live-in roommate while the child victim was taken to Hendrick Medical Center – Brownwood for treatment and a forensic exam.

During the investigation, the child victim’s stepfather, 28-year-old Gabriel Antonio Ruvalcaba of Brownwood, was interviewed at the Brownwood Police Department.  In the interview, several comments were made by Ruvalcaba implicating him as the suspect.  Physical evidence at the residence further corroborated the statements made by Ruvalcaba.

Ruvalcaba was arrested at the conclusion of the interview for Injury to a Child, F3 and Assault Family Violence Impede Breath or Circulation, F3.