2 Men Are Accused of Killing a 12-year-old Texas Girl Who Was Found in a Creek as Police Detail Her Last Moments

Two men were arrested by police in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl who was found in a creek in Houston.

People originally said that Jocelyn Nungaray was found dead on the morning of Monday, June 17. At the time, Houston cops said they thought there was foul play.

Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope named the suspects as Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26. He did this at a press meeting on Thursday, June 20. Both guys were arrested earlier that day and charged with murder with the death penalty. Hope also said that the suspects are still being questioned about the murder charge.

It’s not clear if the suspects have pleaded guilty or hired lawyers to talk for them.

Hope also told more about the events that happened before Jocelyn was killed. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences was able to identify Jocelyn. At the press conference, he said that the suspects were seen walking south after going to a nearby restaurant on Sunday, June 16.

He said that they were seen on surveillance cams while they were walking. That’s when Hope says the suspects were seen talking to Jocelyn. Soon after, the three of them walked to a convenience store together. They then went to a bridge, where police think Jocelyn was killed. Hope said that the suspects were seen going south after leaving Jocelyn.

Police and other investigation teams followed the leads to an apartment complex on Northborough Drive. That’s where the two suspects were caught and taken to be questioned on Thursday, according to Hope. Investigators at the scene said they found proof that led to the arrests of the suspects while they were being questioned.

Hope said that the suspects’ link with the victim is still being looked into. He also said the suspects were the same guys who were in the pictures that the police had posted on their social media pages before.

“We were able to do this because of the hard work of my police officers, the teams, the media, and the community as a whole,” Lt. Hope said at the press conference. “I’m proud of everyone they helped.”

Police had said before that they thought Jocelyn had sneaked out of her house at 10 p.m. the night before she was found dead, and they were looking to talk to two men who had not been identified but were thought to be people of interest.

KRIV said that Jocelyn’s 13-year-old boyfriend heard her talking to two guys at a convenience store while she was on the phone with him.

The news source also said that Jocelyn’s body was found by a woman on her way to work in the morning.

Williamie Jean Jackson, the woman, told the station, “Horrifying, it was scary.” “I’m from a small town, and things like this never happen there.” It scared me as a mother and grandma to find that out.

Police said they found the girl in a creek that wasn’t very deep.

Over $22,000 has been raised for Jocelyn’s family through a GoFundMe page.

“Her family was not prepared for such a loss and needed help to give her daughter the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory and to say our last goodbyes,” the group wrote. “Please give her and her family the time they need to grieve in peace. Anything will help.”