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3 months ago
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Two men have been charged with the horrific murder of a 12-year-old Texas girl.
Jocelyn Nungaray's body was found floating in a creek near her Houston home on Monday.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have now been charged with capital murder following a manhunt for the suspects.
Houston PD explained that the murder of anyone aged under 15 automatically results in a capital murder charge.
They previously suggested the youngster had also been raped and sent off a sexual assault kit to obtain further evidence.
Jocelyn Nungary, 12, was found dead by strangulation in a shallow creek near her home on Sunday
Officials are also working with Homeland Security Officials to see whether Martinez and Ramos are illegal immigrants.
The medical examiner confirmed that Jocelyn died by strangulation.
Police issued images of two persons of interest seen with the pre teen hours before her death after she had snuck out of her home at around 10pm.
Officers said the suspects, who lived in the same block as the girl, bumped into Jocelyn and walked with her to a convenience store.
She called her 13-year-old boyfriend from the convenience store at around midnight that night.
He reported hearing her talking to two adults, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced at a news conference Tuesday.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have now been charged with capital murder following a manhunt for the suspects
Police said the suspects resided within the same apartment complex as the victim
It is believed Jocelyn first encountered the two men when she went to a convenience store
Her grieving mother, Alexis Nungary, is now struggling to process what has happened.
'It's like it's not real,' she told Click2Houston. 'I keep hearing everything, and
She said she does not believe she knows the two men Jocelyn was seen with at the convenience store, whom the Houston Police Department have identified as 'persons of interest in the case.'
But Alexis says she suspects they either live in the apartment complex or may have walked to the store from a nearby state park.
'I want karma to hit them, I'm angry,' Alexis added. 'They took advantage of her.
'She's so young, she's 12. I want justice. I want whoever has seen them to please call police. They took my baby away.'
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