12-year-old girl found dead in Houston bayou after sneaking out of her house

HOUSTON (TCN) -- Homicide detectives are conducting an investigation after a 12-year-old girl was found deceased in a shallow waterway after she reportedly snuck out of her house.

According to Houston Police Lt. Stephen Hope, on Monday, June 17, at around 6 a.m., a passerby called 911 to report finding a body in the bayou near Rankin Road. Houston Police Department detectives and a dive team arrived at the scene and recovered the girl’s body. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to positively identify her and determine cause and manner of death.

Hope said although the positive identification is pending, investigators "do believe it’s going to be a 12-year-old female that snuck out of her residence late last night and ended up in the waterway."

Detectives obtained surveillance footage but are still working to follow up on leads and new information about what led to the girl’s death.

The victim reportedly left her home at around 10 p.m. and her family allegedly had no idea.

According to Hope, the girl was not reported missing.

Detectives are still working to uncover details about her death, but Hope said this is considered a homicide investigation because a "12-year-old found in a waterway is suspicious."

Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite said the girl’s mother is "devastated," adding, "Her little girl is gone."