Two Venezuelan migrants, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, have been apprehended by the Houston, Texas police in relation to the homicide of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl. The body of the minor was discovered in a marshy waterway on Monday, June 17, resulting in capital murder charges against the two suspects.
The young girl was reported missing following her departure from her apartment late on Sunday night. Police obtained surveillance footage revealing the suspects following her into a convenience store. This crucial evidence led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the suspects at their mutual residence.
Nungaray’s alleged killers, Pena Ramos and Rangel Martinez, are reported to have entered the U.S. unlawfully. Pena Ramos crossed into the U.S. near El Paso, Texas on May 28 and was discharged the same day on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. He was equipped with a GPS tracker, which monitored his movements for 21 days. Whether he was still wearing the tracker at the time of the murder remains uncertain. Rangel Martinez, on the other hand, unlawfully entered the country on March 14 and was similarly released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear.
The victim’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, expressed her profound grief and anger, 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, commented on the case, sharing his personal connection as a father and grandfather. He emphasized that such situations underscore the necessity of denying bail in certain cases.
The Department of Homeland Security has initiated an examination of the suspects’ immigration histories, underscoring the difficulties associated with securing comprehensive criminal records from nations such as Venezuela.
The Nungaray family has received significant support from their local community in this trying time. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with funeral expenses and offer some financial relief. The fundraising initiative has so far amassed over $36,000.
Local authorities are urging anyone with additional information to assist in the ongoing investigation.