According to fresh court records obtained by Fox News, the two illegal immigrant suspects accused of strangling 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray to death this week “lured” her under a Houston bridge before tying her up and killing her.
Both Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are accused of capital murder; the prosecution is asking for a $1 million bond amount for each of them.
The defendant in this case, according to Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner, “lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over 2 hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou.”
Image: Fox News
The two Venezuelan suspects were freed from detention on Thursday, according to a report from Fox News, after they had entered the country illegally. “Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole, or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location,” an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed the news on Friday.
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“Martinez was captured by the US Border Patrol on March 14 in the vicinity of El Paso, Texas. He was freed on an order of recognizance that same day along with a notice to appear, the spokeswoman continued. The U.S. Border Patrol captured Pena on May 28 in the vicinity of El Paso. Additionally, he was freed on a recognizance order and given a notice to appear the day after his arrest.”
According to Houston police Lieutenant Stephen Hope, investigators followed Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos’ movements both before and after the murder. They did this by using surveillance footage.
Nungaray had slipped out of her family’s apartment earlier this week, according to Houston Mayor John Whitmire, and was in a convenience shop talking on the phone with her 13-year-old boyfriend. The boyfriend reported to the police that he overheard Nungaray conversing with two persons.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
