Jocelyn Nungaray murder: Illegal immigration status of suspects confirmed
HOUSTON - Authorities in Houston have arrested two Venezuelan nationals in connection with the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was discovered near a creek.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are charged with capital murder in Nungaray's death.
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Her 13-year-old boyfriend reportedly told police he talked to her on the phone around midnight and she was talking to a couple of men in a car at the 7-Eleven in the 12400 block of Kuykendahl.
According to court documents, the suspects lured Nungaray under a bridge where they stayed with her for more than two hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her before throwing her body into the bayou.
"Hearing that the gentlemen that were in these surveillance video, that they’ve been found, they’ve been caught, and taken in for questioning, it was like the greatest news to hear this morning to be wakened up with," said Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn's mother, describing her reaction to learning that the suspects had been apprehended.
The SWAT team, gang division, Northbelt division, and homicide division coordinated an operation to apprehend the suspects at an apartment complex they lived at near the crime scene. Investigators said they found evidence connecting the suspects to the crime in the apartment.
Houston police said it all started Sunday night when the suspects were at a restaurant and were seen going southbound. As they were going southbound, they were caught on a surveillance camera. According to Lt. Steven Hope with HPD, the suspects were seen speaking with Jocelyn before accompanying her to a convenience store and later to the bridge where she was killed.
According to a statement from an ICE spokesperson, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston have lodged immigration detainers against Martinez and Ramos. Both men are said to have illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole, or admission by a U.S. immigration officer. Martinez was reportedly apprehended near El Paso, Texas, on March 14 and released the same day with a notice to appear. Similarly, Pena was taken into custody near El Paso on May 28 and released under similar conditions.
Sen. Ted Cruz called for action, highlighting that the suspects are illegal aliens who entered the U.S. through El Paso this year.
Sen. Cruz said, "This is horrifying. If guilty, both of these men should receive the death penalty for this horrible crime. These men are illegal aliens and Jocelyn Nungaray would still be alive and with her family if not for Joe Biden’s open border policies. The Biden administration is directly responsible. My heart goes out to Jocelyn’s family. We must give them justice. Joe Biden is out of excuses: He must reinstate Remain in Mexico and end catch-and-release immediately, or we will lose more innocent life. There is no time for half measures—we need to look at what works, and do it now."
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The Houston Police Department continues its investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.
