2 people charged in murder of 12-year-old girl found strangled in Houston

Two men have been arrested and charged with capital murder in the death of a 12-year-old girl found strangled in a Houston creek.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, were taken into custody Thursday, a day after being declared persons of interest in the case of Jocelyn Nungaray.

Jocelyn had apparently sneaked out of her home between 10 p.m. Sunday and midnight Monday after everyone had gone to bed, police said. His mother discovered him missing the next day and tracked his cell phone signal to a local skate park, according to ABC affiliate KTRK.

Jocelyn was caught on surveillance footage talking to two men at a 7-Eleven convenience store just steps from her home, then was seen leaving with them. She was on the phone with her 13-year-old boyfriend when she first met the men.

Police said Jocelyn and the two men walked to a bridge, where they murdered her, left her in a shallow bayou and returned home.

A woman returning home after driving her husband to work found the girl around 6:15 a.m. Monday and called police, according to Fox affiliate KRIV.

“It was a horrific scene,” Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite said Thursday at a news conference announcing the arrests.

The wide distribution of their photos contributed to the suspects’ arrest, police said. After their arrest, a search of the men’s apartment turned up evidence linking the two roommates to Jocelyn’s murder, police told reporters.

The Harris County coroner ruled that Jocelyn died of strangulation.

Investigators said Thursday that the results of a sexual assault examination were pending.

With news feed services