HOUSTON, Texas — Two Venezuelan migrants accused of murdering 12-year-old Houston girl Jocelyn Nungaray are being held in Harris County Jail on $10 million bail each after appearing before a judge on Monday and Tuesday. The two illegally crossed the border between ports of entry and were released by the Biden administration but made it to Houston.
The Harris County District Attorney, a Democrat, spoke to reporters after the bail hearing, referring to a “flawed immigration system,” Fox 26 Houston reported. report“Our immigration system is broken, and if ever there was a case that reflects that, it’s this one,” District Attorney Ogg said.
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, have been charged with the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. Breitbart News reports that the pair were arrested after Houston Police Department investigators tipped them off. The arrest came after the girl’s body was found in a Houston-area bayou.
The two men allegedly took Jocelyn from a convenience store near her home to a bridge on West Rankin Road on the city’s northeast side, where Martinez-Rangel then grabbed her by the neck, climbed on top of her and put his hand over her mouth, according to court documents.
The two men have been charged with murder in the case but have not yet been sentenced to death, though District Attorney Ogg told reporters that could change if evidence of kidnapping or sexual assault emerges.
“The evidence is clear that a sexual assault likely occurred, but because neither defendant actually admitted to it, that must be proven through circumstantial evidence,” Ogg said. Said host of Fox News’ America’s Newsroom. “We’re currently waiting on the results of the test to see if the murder charge will be upgraded to a crime punishable by death.”
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Peña Ramos reportedly admitted to kissing the girl, and, according to Fox News reporter Nate Foy, he told investigators that Martinez Rangel “became more aggressive.”
“This case is horrific. Jocelyn’s final moments are beyond words,” Ogg continued. “She endured the assault for hours. She was seen sneaking out of the house to call her 13-year-old boyfriend by two immigrants who had been drinking all afternoon, presumably to ask for directions, but she was innocent. She left with them. Footage from a local store shows they lured her under a bridge near a Houston bayou, assaulted her, strangled her and dragged her body into the water.”
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said the agency had issued immigration detention warrants for the two Venezuelan nationals.
Martinez and Peña entered the United States illegally on an unknown date and location without being inspected, paroled, or admitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. On March 14, Martinez was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. The same day, the Border Patrol released Martinez on bail with a summons to appear. Peña was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso on May 28. He was also released on bail with a summons to appear the same day that he was arrested.
Bob Price Price is deputy editor and senior news contributor for Breitbart Texas Border Team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a reporter for Fox 26 Houston. What is your argument? Sunday Morning He also serves as chairman of the talk show. Blue Wonder Cancer Care Products.
