Hundreds of mourners turned out for the of 12-year-old Texas girl , who was tragically near her home, as she was remembered on Thursday for her love of reading and animals. Among the attendees were Democratic Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Cecilia Abbott, wife of Governor Greg Abbott. "We're sad but we're outraged and angry that this would happen in our community," said Whitmire, who was elected in December, to those gathered in mourning.
"We're going to monitor this case all the way through the criminal justice system," he added. Jocelyn's body was discovered in a creek on June 17. The medical examiner determined that she had been strangled.
Authorities say she had snuck out of her house the night before. Two Venezuelan men, who had entered the US illegally, have been charged with capital murder in connection with her death. At a funeral service held on Thursday, Jocelyn was remembered as a girl with a radiant smile who had a love for animals, the TV show "Stranger Things," Harry Potter, and baking.
Her diverse musical tastes were highlighted when one of her favorite songs, the early 1960s hit "Coney Island Baby" by The Excellents, played while mourners viewed a slideshow. Jocelyn's great-aunt Julie Gonzales fondly remembered her niece, saying: "I will always remember her big beautiful smile and beautiful bright eyes, and she had such beautiful curly locks." She described Jocelyn as "shy, quiet, soft-spoken and reserved, like her mom.
" In the tearful speech, Julie emotional.