2 men arrested for strangling 12-year-old Houston girl whose body was found in creek

HOUSTON — Two men who were seen on surveillance footage with a 12-year-old girl before her body was found in a Houston creek earlier this week were arrested Thursday in connection with her death, police said .

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, each face a capital murder charge in the killing of Jocelyn Nungaray, police said. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be strangulation.

It was unclear whether the two suspects still had attorneys to speak on their behalf. Their names were not listed in jail or court records Thursday afternoon.

Jocelyn’s body was found in the shallow water of a creek early Monday morning. Police said she had run away from her nearby home the night before.

Police said surveillance footage showed the men meeting Jocelyn before going with her to a convenience store.

The three men then walked together to the bridge where Jocelyn was killed, police said. It was not yet known whether Jocelyn knew the men, who were roommates, police said.

Police said the results of a sexual assault examination of the victim were awaited.

Police on Tuesday released photos from surveillance footage of the two men, who were called persons of interest at the time.