2 Men Accused of Murdering Texas Girl, 12, Found in Creek, as Police Detail Her Final Moments
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have been charged with capital murder in connection with the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray
Police announced the arrests of two men in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl found in a Houston creek.
Jocelyn Nungaray was found dead on the morning of Monday, June 17, PEOPLE previously reported. At the time, Houston police said authorities believed foul play was involved.
During a press conference on Thursday, June 20, Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope identified the suspects as Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26. Both men have been charged with capital murder and were taken into custody earlier that day. Hope added that the suspects are awaiting booking on the murder charge.
It's unclear if the suspects have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.
Hope also shared more information about the moments leading up to the killing of Jocelyn, who was identified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. He said at the press conference that on Sunday, June 16, the suspects visited a local restaurant and were seen heading southbound on foot.
Related: Police Think 12-Year-Old Girl Snuck Out of Texas Home Before She Was Found Dead in Creek
As they were walking, they were spotted on surveillance cameras, he said. According to Hope, that's when the suspects were seen talking with Jocelyn. Soon after, all three walked together to a convenience store and then went to a bridge, where investigators believe Jocelyn was killed. The suspects were seen leaving southbound after leaving Jocelyn, Hope said.
The investigation led officers and other investigative teams to an apartment complex on Northborough Drive, where the two suspects were detained and taken in for questioning on Thursday, according to Hope. As the suspects were being questioned, investigators at the scene claimed they recovered evidence that eventually led to their arrests.
Hope said the relationship between the suspects and victim is still under investigation. He added that the suspects were the same men pictured in the photos previously shared to the public via the department's social media pages.
UPDATE: Our homicide detectives want to speak with these two male persons of interest regarding the death of a 12-year-old female at 400 West Rankin Rd.
If you recognize them, please call HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or @CrimeStopHOU
More info at https://t.co/J5pnr9nXpc https://t.co/RpFpzjsSX7 pic.twitter.com/N9RZew2kqu— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 19, 2024
“It is because of the hard work of my police officers, the teams, the media and the community at large that we were able to do this and I’m very proud of everyone who was involved," Lt. Hope said at the press conference.
Police previously said they believed Jocelyn had snuck out of her house at 10 p.m. the night before she was found dead and that detectives were seeking to speak to two unidentified males that were considered persons of interest.
KRIV reported that Jocelyn had been talking to her boyfriend, 13, on the phone when he overheard her talking to two men at a convenience store.
The outlet also reported that Jocelyn's body was found by a woman on her daily morning commute.
"Horrifying, it was scary," the woman, Billie Jean Jackson told the station. "Being from a small town and then nothing like this ever happens. Finding that, it scared me as a mother and grandmother."
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Police said the girl was found in a shallow part of a creek.
A GoFundMe for Jocelyn's family has raised over $22,000.
"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 organizer wrote. "Anything helps and I ask for you to please give her and her family the time they need to grieve in peace.
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