Houston girl murdered: 2 persons of interest in surveillance photos charged in death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray: HPD

HOUSTON– The two people arrested Thursday in connection with the strangling of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was discovered in a north Houston creek earlier this week, are now charged with capital murder, the police announced. police.

This comes less than 48 hours after Houston police released photos of two men of interest in the case.

On Thursday afternoon, HPD held a press conference during which it was announced that two men, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, had been arrested and were facing capital murder charges. capital for their alleged role in the death of the 12-year-old boy.

Lt. Stephen Hope said surveillance video and other evidence helped them identify the suspects. Hope said the two began their evening together at a local restaurant. They then left the restaurant on foot and headed south, which is when they were first seen on camera. HPD released these images Tuesday.

The suspects were then seen meeting Nungaray and chatting for a few minutes. Later, Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos, accompanied by Nungaray, walked to a convenience store.

After a few minutes, the three walked toward a bridge, where HPD said the 12-year-old was murdered.

Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos then continued walking to their residence, leaving Nungaray behind.

After days of investigation, authorities arrested the two men on Thursday. They were arrested and arrested. Meanwhile, crews remained at the apartment complex searching for additional evidence of the crime, which was found, but police did not immediately release those details.

Nungaray’s body was found Monday near a highway, just steps from her home, after investigators believed she had sneaked out of her home Sunday around 10 p.m. Her mother last saw her as she was going to bed, police said.

Despite the arrest of the two men, authorities are still asking for the public’s help with any information.

“We are always asking for more help from the public so that anyone who may have seen something or knows something, no matter how small, can contact us,” HPD Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite said.

Mayor John Whitmire also took a moment to ask for help from the community, but also mentioned that all eyes are now on the justice system.

“We’re going to watch you; the rest has happened and the charges have been filed. Now we want the justice system to do its job. If there’s ever been a circumstance where you don’t give someone bail , that’s good,” Whitmire said. “There are permissible circumstances if you can prevent bail. Consider the risk of flight. Consider the seriousness of this crime. So I’m going to monitor the justice system. I want these suspects to have their day in court .I want them to be held accountable and I want this to be done as soon as possible.”

On Wednesday, ABC Houston affiliate KTRK spoke with Nungaray’s grandmother, who said, “We really want justice for her. We’re asking for everyone’s help.”

She describes her as an incredibly kind and loving girl. The family recently returned from their annual vacation to a national park.

Later that day, KTRK spoke to the girl’s mother.

“She’s supposed to be here. She’s supposed to be here,” Alexis Nungaray said. “She had aspirations for life. She loved everyone, she was so kind, her best friend, very goofy.”

Alexis Nungaray does not believe that her daughter knew the men filmed by the surveillance camera.

“She’s not the type to be aggressive and say, ‘Stop talking to me,'” she said. “She’s very shy and quiet and keeps to herself. I felt like maybe she didn’t want to be rude, and that’s why she was pacing back and forth and safely away from the situation. Unfortunately, she found herself with the wrong people at the wrong time.”

Nungaray was reportedly talking on the phone with her 13-year-old boyfriend around midnight when he heard her talking with two adults.

Alexis Nungaray added that she tracked her daughter’s phone to a nearby skate park when she realized she was missing.

RELATED: HPD believes 12-year-old girl may have snuck out of home before found dead in creek

Billie Jackson was driving home after dropping her husband off from work Monday morning when she said she made a disturbing discovery.

“I drove past and when I looked down at the creek, I thought it was a mannequin. I turned around, stopped on the bridge, turned on my flashers, “I looked down and realized it was someone. I parked here and immediately called 911,” she said.

The Institute of Forensic Sciences in Harris County, Texas, determined that Nungaray died of strangulation.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the girl’s death to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).