Alberto J. Garcia, left, and Julian C. Gray III.(Photo: AP/Gulfport Police Department)
GULFPORT, Miss. - Gulfport Police have two persons of interest in custody in the capital murder investigation of Janaya (juh-NAY-uh) Thompson, 5, The Sun Herald reported. The pair were arrested on unrelated charges.
Julian Casper Gray III, 31, was booked at the Harrison County Detention Center Friday for rape and sexual battery. Gray allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in April.
Alberto Julio Garcia, 29, was also arrested Friday for residential burglary. Garcia is accused of breaking into the mobile home where Janaya's body was found.
Both men reside at The Palms apartment complex where Janaya lived.
Gray and Garcia are each held on $500,000 bonds.
Janaya was last seen by her family Wednesday night outside their apartment in Gulfport. A search dog helped find her body Thursday morning in the bathroom of a trailer that was about a five-minute walk from the apartment complex.
Janaya Thompson, 5, of Gulfport, Miss.(Photo: AP/Gulfport Police Department)
Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said Friday that Janaya died of "asphyxiation due to strangulation." He would not release other details from an autopsy.
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania said the men were persons of interest "because of materials that have been gleaned in this investigation." He said "considerable evidence" has been collected and will be tested at a crime lab.
Family and friends indicated they thought a man who helped in the search was involved in the killing, but Papania said that man is not a suspect.
"This individual has been cooperating with authorities and has been interviewed and examined," Papania said. "Initial reports relating to this individual's physical condition are not accurate."
Papania said police and the FBI continue to work around the clock and are following every lead. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call 662-868-5959.
Related: Body of missing Gulfport girl found
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