12-Year-Old Girl Found Strangled in Texas Creek After Sneaking Out
Chilling new details emerge in the tragic murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, found strangled in a Houston bayou just hours after slipping out of her home late on Sunday night.
Two Men Face Capital Murder Charges
Jocelyn’s body was discovered floating in Greenpoint Creek on Monday morning. Two men, Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, both Venezuelan nationals living in the US illegally, have been charged with capital murder.
According to police, the suspects lured the young girl under a bridge, held her for over two hours, allegedly raped her, then strangled her before dumping her body in the creek. Authorities are still awaiting tests to confirm the sexual assault allegations. Prosecutors say the death penalty hinges on this evidence.
Suspects Previously Released by Border Patrol
Both men had been arrested near El Paso in recent months but were released pending court appearances. Rangel was stopped on March 14 and Ramos on May 28. Now both are jailed in Harris County with bail set at $1million each.
Surveillance Footage Captures Final Moments
Security cameras show Jocelyn entering a convenience store near her home around midnight, where she reportedly met Rangel and Ramos. She even called her 13-year-old boyfriend from the shop shortly before the encounter turned deadly.
“I drove past, and when I looked up the creek, I thought it was a mannequin. I did a U-turn, and I stopped on the bridge, put my flashers on, looked down, and realised it was someone. I parked right here and called 911 immediately,” said passerby Billie Jackson, who found the body.
Family and Community in Shock
Jocelyn’s mother Alexis struggles to comprehend the horror. “It’s like it’s not real. I keep hearing everything, and it’s not registering,” she said. Alexis had warned her daughter not to wander out late, knowing the dangers nearby. Jocelyn had been battling mental health troubles, but the motive for her night-time walk remains unclear.
“They took advantage of her. She’s only 12. I want justice,” Alexis added. Family members remember Jocelyn as a loving, goofy, and bright girl — the “greatest friend” with big dreams.
Community Fund Rises to $40k for Funeral
The outpouring of support continues as a GoFundMe set up for Jocelyn’s funeral nears $40,000. The family says they were unprepared for such a devastating loss but cherish the help to give their daughter a proper farewell.
Jocelyn’s tragic death has left Houston shocked and mourning the loss of a bright young life snatched away far too soon.
