Two men have been charged with capital murder in the heartbreaking case of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was discovered in a shallow creek in north Houston.
Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, were charged on Friday with the murder of a child between 10 and 15 years old. Find the source at nbcnews
Jocelyn was found early Monday morning, and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences confirmed she died by strangulation. Houston police, using surveillance footage and witness statements, identified and arrested the suspects on Thursday.
Houston’s Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite praised the relentless efforts of the police teams, who meticulously traced the suspects’ movements alongside Jocelyn’s until her tragic death at a bayou.
Tests are underway to determine if Jocelyn was sexually assaulted.
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The two men, Martinez-Rangel and Pena, were last seen on surveillance video with Jocelyn at a convenience store before walking to a bridge where she was killed.
They are currently held in the Harris County Jail and are expected to face their first court appearance soon, with prosecutors seeking $1 million bonds for each.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire expressed his horror at the case, emphasizing the deep impact on the community. Both suspects have immigration violation holds, and their immigration statuses are under investigation by Homeland Security.
Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, stated she had never seen the two men before and did not know if her daughter knew them. The suspects did not live at their apartment complex, adding to the mystery surrounding the tragic events.