2 men charged with murder of 12-year-old Texas girl found in creek

Police announced the arrest of two men in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl who was found in a Houston creek.

Jocelyn Nungaray was found dead on Monday morning, June 17, as PEOPLE previously reported. At the time, Houston police 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 were charged with capital murder and taken into custody earlier that day. Hope added that the suspects are awaiting arrest on murder charges.

It is unclear whether the suspects have confessed or hired lawyers to speak on their behalf.

Hope also gave more information about the moments leading up to the murder of Jocelyn, who was identified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. He said at the press conference that the suspects visited a local restaurant on Sunday, June 16, and were seen walking south.

As they walked, they were spotted on security cameras, he said. Hope said the suspects were seen talking to Jocelyn. Shortly afterward, all three walked together to a convenience store and then to a bridge, where investigators believe Jocelyn was killed. The suspects were seen walking south 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 arrested and brought in for questioning Thursday, Hope said. While questioning the suspects, investigators at the scene claimed they secured evidence that ultimately led to their arrest.

Hope said the relationship between the suspects and the victim remains under investigation, adding that the suspects are the same men pictured in photos previously made public through the department’s social media pages.

“This is thanks to the hard work of my police officers, teams, the media and the entire community, and I am very proud of everyone involved,” Lt. Hope said at the press conference.

Police had previously stated that they believed Jocelyn had sneaked out of her house at 10 p.m. the night before her body was found. Detectives had attempted to speak to two unidentified men who were considered suspects.

KRIV reported that Jocelyn was on the phone with her 13-year-old boyfriend when he overheard her talking to two men in a supermarket.

The outlet also reported that Jocelyn’s body was found by a woman on her daily morning commute to work.

“Horrible, it was scary,” the woman, Billie Jean Jackson, told the station. “I come from a small town and this kind of thing never happens. As a mother and grandmother, it scared me.”

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According to police, the girl was found in a shallow part of a stream.

A GoFundMe campaign for Jocelyn’s family has raised over $22,000.

“Her family was unprepared for such a loss and needed help to give their daughter the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory and to give her our final goodbyes,” the organizer wrote. “Anything helps and I ask that you please give her and her family the time they need to grieve in peace.”