By Raul Castillo
01 Jul 2024, 18:43 PM EDT
The two Venezuelans arrested and accused of killing Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl who was found dead on June 17 under a bridge in Houston (Texas), could face the death penalty, since they also raped the minor.
Nungaray, whose cause of death was strangulation, showed signs of sexual assault, the Houston Forensic Science Center told local ABC channel.
Franklin José Peña Ramos, 26, and Johan José Martínez Rangel, 22, the alleged perpetrators of the crime, were arrested a few days after Houston Police released several images of the two talking to the minor on the night of June 16.
Until last week, Peña Ramos and Martínez Rangel were not eligible for the death penalty because Texas law prevents seeking the maximum sentence for murder charges alone due to Nungaray’s age, EFE news agency reported.
However, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg told reporters that if evidence was found to charge them with sexual assault, the case would be eligible for the death penalty and the state could also ask that the two suspects be held without bail.
Both remain in jail on $10 million bail due to flight risk.
Both Martínez Rangel and Peña Ramos entered the United States illegally between March and May, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE).
Border Patrol had detained Martinez Rangel on March 14 and Pena Ramos on May 28. However, the two undocumented immigrants were later released with orders to appear at a later court hearing.
Who was Jocelyn Nungaray?
The 12-year-old was described by her family as loyal and compassionate. Her kindness and “zest for life” is part of what her family wants people to remember her for, according to an obituary cited by CNN.
“Jossy also gave me the strength to be myself and speak up for myself and I will always be grateful to her for that. I love you, Jossy,” her older sister Gabby told the media.
During the funeral, Jocelyn was also remembered as a girl with lots of energy, playful and creative, who loved music and baking, while her favorite song played in the background.
Some of his relatives asked that the borders be closed to prevent more undocumented immigrants from entering.
“I can’t say that they are all bad; there are good people, but they need to close the borders and not let everyone in. Jocelyn had a whole future ahead of her, she was cheerful and fun, she didn’t follow anyone. She was a unique person,” Christine Núñez, cousin of Jocelyn’s grandmother, told The Post.
Keep reading:
- Jocelyn Nungaray is farewelled: at her funeral her family asked to close the border to illegal migrants
- Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother called Hispanic migrants who murdered her daughter “monsters”
- Undocumented immigrant accused of killing 12-year-old girl in Texas gets $10 million bail