Police Think 12-Year-Old Girl Snuck Out of Texas Home Before She Was Found Dead in Creek

The body of a 12-year-old girl was found in a creek in Texas on Monday, June 17 — and authorities believe she'd snuck out of her home the night before.

On Monday, around 6 a.m., officers with the Houston Police Department responded to West Rankin Road after receiving a 911 call from someone who reported seeing a body in the creek, Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope said at a press conference on Monday.

Dive teams recovered the victim, who Hope only identified as a 12-year-old girl. Hope said the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office is completing an autopsy to determine the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death. 

According to Hope, investigators believe the girl snuck out of her home at a nearby apartment complex sometime after 10 p.m. Sunday, June 16, before being found in the shallow water. 

“We have reason to believe that the family did not know she was leaving the house,” Lt. Hope said. 

He clarified that the area where her body was found was within walking distance from her house, leading investigators to suspect foul play. Hope declined to share whether police believe she was killed prior to being found in the water, saying he’s unable to speculate without the medical examiner’s full report.

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Hope added that police have obtained and are reviewing surveillance footage, but they need the public's help to narrow down a suspect. 

“I’ve talked to this child’s mother. Of course she is devastated. Her family is devastated. Her little girl is gone. So we need your help,” Houston Police Chief Larry J. Satterwhite told reporters.

Houston police are asking anyone with information on the case to call the department at (713) 308-3600 or Houston Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.