Houston police are investigating the death of a 12-year-old girl who apparently snuck out of her home Sunday night and was found dead in a creek the next morning.

Investigators have not released the name of the girl but said they suspect foul play.

“Asking Houstonians to help us find the murderer of this 12-year-old little girl in one of our neighborhoods,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire told KHOU.  “I’ve spoken to her mother. She’s devastated, holding out hope that it’s not her daughter.”

Authorities said a citizen called 911 at about 6 a.m. Monday morning and reported seeing a body in a bayou, KRIV reported. Dive teams responded and recovered the body in shallow water in north Houston not far from her home.

Investigators said they are combing through surveillance video to determine what happened.

“Looking into whatever communications could have happened, we’re not sure how that was but we have reason to believe the family did not know that she was leaving the house,” Houston Police Lt. Stephen Hope told KHOU.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Houston police at (713) 308-3600 or Houston Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.

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