• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Two men arrested in murder case of 12-year-old girl who snuck out of home

Home> News> Crime

Updated 08:48 21 Jun 2024 GMT+1Published 08:44 21 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Two men arrested in murder case of 12-year-old girl who snuck out of home

Police have confirmed that two men face charges relating to the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl in Houston, Texas.

The body of Jocelyn Nungaray was found in a shallow creek in the early hours of Monday morning.

Jocelyn disappeared after sneaking out of her family home on Sunday, with authorities releasing CCTV footage of her before her death.

A report from the medical examiner confirmed that the cause of Jocelyn's death was strangulation.

Investigators are also waiting on results of an exam to determine if a sexual assault took place.

Advert

Two men, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have now been arrested in connection with the case.

They both face capital charges of murder in the killing of Jocelyn.

CCTV footage shows the two men meeting Jocelyn before walking with her to a convenience store, police have confirmed.

The group then walked to a bridge, where it is believed Jocelyn was killed.

Advert

12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was murdered after she snuck out of her family home in Houston, Texas. (GoFundMe)
12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was murdered after she snuck out of her family home in Houston, Texas. (GoFundMe)

At present, it is not known whether Jocelyn knew the two men, who were roommates.

Police previously confirmed that they wanted to speak to the two men in connection with the case, writing: "UPDATE: Our homicide detectives want to speak with these two male persons of interest regarding the death of a 12-year-old female at 400 West Rankin Rd."

Mayor John Whitmire also revealed that Jocelyn had made a phone call to her boyfriend, who is 13, before she died.

Advert

In a press conference, Whitmore said that the 12-year-old was last seen by her mom at around 10pm on Sunday when she was putting everyone to bed.

This means that Jocelyn probably snuck out of the house between 10pm and 12am.

Authorities also released CCTV footage showing the pre-teen walking into a 7-Eleven in Houston on Sunday with two men.

The 12-year-old was seen walking into a 7-Eleven in Houston on Sunday with two men who have since been arrested. (Houston Police Department)
The 12-year-old was seen walking into a 7-Eleven in Houston on Sunday with two men who have since been arrested. (Houston Police Department)

Advert

Whitmore said: "It appears that he [her boyfriend] last talked to her at a convenience store around midnight, heard her talking to two grown-ups."

In an interview with local media, Jocelyn’s mother Alexis Nungaray said: "She was so young. She was 12, you took my baby away, you took her away."

Alexis added that she didn't know why her daughter had left the house, saying: "I always told her, 'Never leave the house, never leave unattended, always be safe. There’s people around here that are crazy'.

"I just hope, I hope they are found because Jocelyn was a fighter. She fought hard. She needs justice. She didn’t deserve this and she needs to be rested at peace."

Advert

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of funeral expenses. Click here to donate.

Featured Image Credit: Houston Police Department/Fox Houston Courtesy of the Nungaray family

Topics: News, US News, Crime

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Kit joined UNILAD in 2023 as a community journalist. They have previously worked for StokeonTrentLive, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

13 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 13 mins ago

    Symptoms of Lyme disease explained after Justin Timberlake reveals 'shock' diagnosis

    Justin Timberlake described the condition as 'relentlessly debilitating'

    News
  • an hour ago

    Eye-watering amount ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is set to cost taxpayers every year

    Florida's new migrant detention center opened on July 1

    News
  • an hour ago

    Justin Timberlake reveals he’s been diagnosed with Lyme disease in heartbreaking post

    Justin Timberlake explained that he's been 'battling some health issues'

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    Double Olympic gold medalist dies aged 31 in tragic mountaineering accident

    Laura Dahlmeier sadly died while travelling in Pakistan

    News
  • 12-year-old girl tragically dies after accidentally shooting herself with mom's gun
  • Court reveals disturbing messages murder suspect sent 13-year-old girl before she went missing
  • Bryan Kohberger receives prison sentence after admitting to brutal murder of four Idaho students
  • Woman's chilling internet searches she made when trying to cover up husband's murder as she pleads guilty