Two men, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are accused of raping and strangling 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
According to Breitbart News, the Houston Police Department arrested and charged Martinez and Ramos with capital murder. Both men are originally from Venezuela, though questions about their arrival in the United States remain under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jurisdiction.
Jocelyn Nungaray's murder has reignited concerns over border security, particularly in light of what some critics describe as the Biden administration's more lenient immigration policies.
Jocelyn snuck out of her apartment building on the night of June 16 after her mother went to sleep. Surveillance cameras captured Jocelyn with Martinez and Ramos at a 7/11 convenience store shortly after midnight. The trio was later seen at a nearby bridge.
Between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., Martinez and Ramos allegedly strangled, raped, and left Jocelyn's body in a creek at the bridge. Around 6:00 a.m., a woman reported seeing a body in the creek to the police. Police discovered Jocelyn’s body after responding to the call.
Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, woke up that morning to find her daughter missing. She used Jocelyn’s cell phone signal to locate her, which led her to the creek. Upon arrival, she found police officers canvassing the scene.
Alexis Nungaray was informed about an hour later that her daughter’s body had been found. Family friends have since established a GoFundMe page to support Jocelyn’s family. Houston Mayor John Whitmire has expressed his hope that Martinez and Ramos will be held without bail until their trial.
Martinez and Ramos were arrested and charged with capital murder by the Houston Police Department. The men are currently in custody and awaiting trial. Questions about when and how they arrived in the United States have been referred to the DHS.
Jocelyn’s boyfriend was the last person to speak to her before her disappearance. Surveillance footage from the 7/11 convenience store was key in tracking the movements of Jocelyn, Martinez, and Ramos. The footage showed them leaving the store together and heading towards a nearby bridge.
Police allege that Martinez and Ramos strangled Jocelyn to death, raped her, and left her body in a creek at the bridge. This crime is believed to have occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on June 16. Around 6:00 a.m., a woman called the police after seeing a body in the creek.
When police arrived, they found Jocelyn’s body and began their investigation. Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis, used her daughter’s cell phone signal to locate her and arrived at the scene where police were already investigating. She was informed about an hour later that Jocelyn’s body had been found.
Family friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help support Jocelyn’s family during this difficult time. Mayor John Whitmire has publicly stated his desire to see Martinez and Ramos held without bail until their trial. Both suspects remain in custody with the Houston Police Department.
Two Venezuelan men have been arrested and charged with the capital murder and rape of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. Jocelyn was found dead in a creek after being strangled and raped on the night of June 16. The suspects, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos were captured on surveillance cameras with Jocelyn before the alleged crime. The police investigation continues as the suspects remain in custody. The community has come together to support Jocelyn's family, and a GoFundMe page has been established to aid them during this difficult period.
