A 12-year-old girl found dead in a creek earlier this week died of strangulation and was seen in surveillance footage approached by two men shortly before she was found.
Harris County coroners said Jocelyn Nungaray was strangled, KPRC reported. The station said that video footage from a 7-Eleven store showed the two men talking with her shortly after midnight.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the 12-year-old was believed to have snuck out of her home late Sunday. Police did not identify her until Wednesday.
According to KHOU, Nungaray was reportedly on the phone with her 13-year-old boyfriend when she was overheard talking to two men. Police released still images from the video showing them.
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.
If you recognize them, please call HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or @CrimeStopHOU
More info at https://t.co/J5pnr9nXpc https://t.co/RpFpzjsSX7 pic.twitter.com/N9RZew2kqu
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 19, 2024
Nungaray’s body was found in the creek at about 6:15 a.m. Monday morning.
“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 realized it was someone. I parked right here and called 911 immediately,” the person who reportedly discovered Nungaray’s body told KTRK.
KPRC reported that Nungaray’s mother tracked her cellphone to the creek where she was ultimately found dead. The creek is located near the slain girl’s home.
“I’m like angry that they took advantage of her. She was so young. She was 12, you took my baby away you took her away,” she told KHOU.
Anyone with information regarding this case should call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
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Author: Jacquelyn Gray
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