Murdered teen's family speaks out for first time since her death

HOUSTON

Corriann Cervantes' family says what happened to her should be a warning to others.

At a media appearance on Friday, an aunt read aloud a Bible verse, "For I am persuaded by neither death nor life nor angels..."

It's an affirmation of faith amid allegations of a brutal and possibly satanic sex assault and murder. Corriann Cervantes, 15, a popular, church-going tenth grader, was found dead on Saturday in a vacant apartment in Clear Lake.

Her aunt Michelle Abernethy said, "What happened to her was evil. It wasn't just the boys doing this. It was demonic forces working through her."

Police say it took days to find the body. They believe Cervantes was murdered on Wednesday. Her parents last saw her on Tuesday.

"It was a normal day," said Corriann's father, Cory Cervantes. "She wanted to go out and we told her to come back home, make sure she came back home, and she just never came back. We tried calling her and that's when we filed a missing person's report."

Two suspects -- Jose Reyes, 17, and a juvenile -- are accused of her murder and are being held without bond. Prosecutors say they confessed, saying it was part of a deal with the devil.

This family says they don't remember ever meeting the suspects.

"Really watch who your kids are hanging out with because this could have happened to anybody's child," cautioned Cory Cervantes, the victim's aunt.

The Cervantes family is now making funeral arrangements. Her two siblings -- a 13-year-old boy, and a 10-year-old girl have lost their older sister -- a girl who loved taking photos, listening to music and playing soccer.

Cory said, "Being our firstborn, she is very special to us. She had so much life in her. She loved her friends, her family."

Cervantes' family identified her body at the medical examiner's office on Friday. They say they would like to forget those gruesome images and remember her as she was -- a sweet, friendly high school student with a lot of potential.

The family is still making plans for the funeral, but they say they would like to hold a large public event, because would like to include many community members who have offered their support and condolences.

Find Pooja on Facebook at PoojaLodhia-Reporter or on Twitter at @impoojalodhia

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