Jocelyn Nungaray’s grandfather said he was grateful to former President Trump for supporting the family following the unlawful killing of the 12-year-old girl in Texas, allegedly by two Venezuelan nationals.
“Former President Trump reached out to us, so bless him and God bless him,” Kelvin Alvarenga said. FOX 26 Houston “I think it’s a very important thing,” he said after being asked this week how he felt about President Trump reaching out to Nungaray’s mother.
The 78-year-old presidential candidate also referenced her “horrific” murder during his debate with President Biden on June 27.
Her grandmother added that Nungaray’s murder was the result of “open borders.”
Houston Mattress Mack pays for funeral of Jocelyn Nangaray, teen killed by illegal immigrant
Former President Trump called the mother of murdered 12-year-old Houston girl Jocelyn Nangaray minutes before taking the stage to debate President Biden. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images, left; AP Photo/Annie Mulligan, top right; Jocelyn Nungarei photo provided by family.)
But Alvarenga warned that he did not want Jocelyn to be used as a “political base”, saying “we want her name to be known too”.
The suspects allegedly lured Nungarei under a bridge in Houston last month, sexually assaulted her and then strangled her to death.
If the suspect is found guilty of sexual assault he could face the death penalty, but Nungaray’s family opposes this, preferring to continue to live with what he allegedly committed.
“I would rather they remember this. [a prison’s] “They will receive the same sentence as any other prisoner – life in prison – so that every night when they go to sleep they will remember the horrible things they did to our family,” Alvarenga said.
Jocelyn Nungareyi was allegedly murdered last month by migrants who had entered the country illegally. (Getty Images)
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 21, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, are charged with murder in her death after authorities say the pair entered the United States illegally earlier this year.
Texas officials and crime victim advocates call for tougher bail laws following Jocelyn Nangaray murder
Alvarenga also said “God bless” Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who recently said the Texas Senate would work to pass “Joslyn’s Law,” which would deny bail to murder suspects facing the death penalty.
“She always said she wanted to be a superstar, so I think we need to carry on her dream. Things aren’t great, but she’s going to be a superstar,” Alvarenga said of his granddaughter. “She was already a star in our lives, and now we’re going to share that with the world.”
Franklin Jose Peña Ramos (left) and Johan Jose Martinez Rangel are charged with murdering Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas. (Harris County Jail)
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The suspects are due to appear in court again in September.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
