Illegal immigrant charged with murder of 12-year-old Texas girl
Fox News’ Mike Tobin reports on the latest on the death of Jocelyn Nangaray. The “Outnumbered” panel discussed the brutal murder and the latest on her suspected killer, who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Friday called for two illegal immigrants charged with killing a 12-year-old Houston girl to be sentenced to death if convicted.
Cruz also blamed President Biden’s border policies for the death of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was found strangled to death in a creek on Monday.
Venezuelan nationals Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Peña, 26, are each charged with murder.
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Sen. Ted Cruz says Johan Jose Martinez Rangel (left) and Franklin Peña should be sentenced to death if they are found guilty of murdering a 12-year-old Houston girl. (Harris County Jail | AP)
“This is horrifying and if guilty, these two men should receive the death penalty for this horrific crime,” Cruz wrote on X. “These were illegal immigrants and if it weren’t for Joe Biden’s open border policy, Jocelyn Nangaray would still be alive and with her family. The Biden Administration is directly responsible. My heart goes out to Jocelyn’s family.”
Police said on Thursday that the two men were seen with Nungarei on Sunday night, before he was killed near the bridge, and investigators tracked their movements through CCTV footage.
“In this case, the defendant lured a 12-year-old girl under a bridge and, after remaining with her and an accomplice for more than two hours, removed her pants, tied her up, killed her, and threw her body into the bayou,” Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote.
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This week, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nangaray was found strangled to death in a creek in Houston. (Courtesy of Fox Houston and the Nungarei Family)
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the two suspects entered the US illegally through Texas.
“On March 14, Martinez U.S. Border Patrol “Peña was arrested on May 28 near El Paso, Texas. He was released on bond with a summons to appear the same day,” an ICE spokesperson said. “Peña was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso on May 28. He was released on bond with a summons to appear the same day.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “Our hearts go out to the family of Jocelyn Nangaray. The Department of Homeland Security cannot comment publicly on ongoing criminal investigations. That said, anyone who commits the horrific and senseless crimes these people have been accused of should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Cruz on Friday called on Biden to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, a Trump-era policy that requires migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico while their cases are heard in U.S. courts.
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“He must reinstate Remain in Mexico and end catch-and-release immediately, or many more innocent lives will be lost,” Cruz wrote. “There is no time for half-measures. We need to consider what works and implement it now.”
Nungaray’s killing comes amid a week of kidnappings, murders and rapes. Illegal immigration Across the country.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
