Two Venezuelan migrants, Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, have been apprehended by the Houston, Texas police for their involvement in the murder of a 12-year-old girl, Jocelyn Nungaray. The girl’s suffocated body was unearthed from a swampy creek on June 17, consequently leading to the two men being charged with capital murder, and bonds of $10 million each being imposed.
Nungaray was declared missing following her sneaking out of her residence on a late Sunday night. Surveillance footage that played a critical role in the investigation showed the suspects trailing the young girl into a nearby convenience store before apprehending them at their shared residence.
Peña Ramos unlawfully crossed the U.S. border near El Paso, Texas on May 28 and was released on the same day under an order of recognizance, which required him to appear in court. He was given a GPS tracker to monitor his movements, which was active during the time of the murder. He removed it himself several days after the body was discovered. Martinez also entered the U.S. illegally on March 14 and was released on a similar order. He was permitted to remove his tracker after complying with immigration check-ins.
Peña Ramos accused Martinez-Rangel, who showed up in court with visible scratch or bite marks on his arms, of committing the murder. Following an assault that lasted approximately two hours, the men tied the girl’s legs together and discarded her body into the creek. Peña Ramos subsequently asked his construction site employer for money to assist them in fleeing Houston, however, his boss alerted the police instead. Martinez-Rangel’s phone search history revealed that he had been researching methods to exit the country.
The victim’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, expressed her anguish and outrage, 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.”
Addressing the incident, Mayor John Whitmire of Houston underscored his personal connection as a parent and grandparent, emphasizing that this is a circumstance where bail should be denied. The Department of Homeland Security has started examining the immigration histories of the suspects, highlighting the challenges of obtaining complete criminal records from countries such as Venezuela.
In response to the tragedy, the local community has shown immense support for the Nungaray family. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral costs and provide financial aid during this challenging time. The fundraising campaign has already amassed over $36,000. Houston law enforcement officials are urging anyone with additional information to assist in the ongoing investigation.
