Two Venezuelan migrants, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, have been arrested and charged in the killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas, according to police reports. Nungaray’s strangled body was discovered in a marshy creek on Monday, June 17, leading to capital murder charges against the two men.
Nungaray was reported missing after she left her apartment late Sunday night. Surveillance footage secured by the police showed the two suspects following her into a convenience store, a key factor in their identification and subsequent arrest at their shared residence.
According to available records, Pena Ramos illegally crossed into the U.S. near El Paso, Texas on May 28 and was released the same day on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. He was given a GPS tracker, which was active for 21 days. However, it is uncertain if he was wearing the tracker at the time of Nungaray’s killing. Rangel Martinez also entered the country illegally on March 14 and was similarly released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear.
Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, expressed her pain over the incident, stating, “I’m angry that they took advantage of her. She was only 12. They took my baby away, and now I have to tell her little brother that his sister isn’t coming home.”
John Whitmire, the Mayor of Houston, spoke about the case, emphasizing his personal connection as a father and grandfather. He pointed out that instances like this underscore the need for denying bail in certain circumstances.
The Department of Homeland Security has started probing the suspects’ immigration histories, underscoring the difficulty of obtaining complete criminal records from countries such as Venezuela.
In the wake of the tragedy, the local community has rallied to support the Nungaray family. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial assistance during this difficult time. To date, the fundraising effort has collected over $36,000.
Local law enforcement officials are urging anyone with further information to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.
