Police have arrested two men in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl, whose body was discovered in a creek in Houston.
Initially, it was reported that Jocelyn Nungaray was discovered deceased on the morning of Monday, June 17th. The Houston authorities suspected foul play at that time.
During a press conference on Thursday, June 20, Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope identified the individuals arrested for murder as Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26. The suspects were taken into custody earlier that day and have since been charged with capital murder. Lt. Hope stated that the investigation is ongoing and the suspects are still being questioned regarding their involvement in the crime.
It remains uncertain whether the suspects have entered a plea of guilt or have retained legal representation to advocate on their behalf.
During the press conference, Hope provided additional details regarding the events leading up to Jocelyn’s untimely death. According to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, Jocelyn’s identity has been confirmed. Hope also revealed that witnesses reported seeing the suspects walking south after leaving a nearby restaurant on Sunday, June 16th.
According to his statement, they were caught on surveillance cameras as they strolled along. It was during this time that Hope recalls the perpetrators engaging in conversation with Jocelyn. Shortly after, the trio proceeded to a nearby convenience store before heading to a bridge. Tragically, this is where authorities believe Jocelyn met her demise. Hope went on to mention that the suspects were spotted leaving the scene and heading south.
On Thursday, the police and investigation teams traced the leads to an apartment complex located on Northborough Drive, where they apprehended the two suspects. According to Hope, they were taken into custody for further questioning. While being interrogated, investigators discovered evidence that led to the suspects’ arrests.
According to Hope, the authorities are still investigating the connection between the suspects and the victim. He confirmed that the individuals in custody were the same individuals featured in the photographs that the police had previously shared on their social media accounts.
During the press conference, Lt. Hope took the opportunity to acknowledge the collective efforts of his police officers, the teams, the media, and the community. He attributed their success to their hard work and expressed his pride in everyone who contributed to the cause.
Earlier, the police had suspected that Jocelyn had left her house at 10 p.m. on the night before her death. They were also seeking to interview two unidentified men who were believed to have some connection with the case.
According to KRIV, Jocelyn’s 13-year-old boyfriend overheard her conversing with two individuals while she was on the phone with him at a convenience store.
According to the report, a woman who was on her way to work in the morning discovered Jocelyn’s body.
According to Williamie Jean Jackson, the incident was nothing short of terrifying. As a resident of a small town, she never expected something like this to happen. “It scared me as a mother and grandma to find that out,” she told the station.
Authorities discovered the young girl in a shallow creek, according to police reports.
A considerable amount of money, totaling over $22,000, has been raised for Jocelyn’s family through a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe.
According to the group, the family of the deceased was not ready for the unexpected loss of their loved one. They required assistance to arrange a fitting memorial service for their daughter, to pay tribute to her memory, and bid her a final farewell. In their plea, they requested privacy and space to mourn their loss in solitude. The group also urged people to extend their support in any way possible.