On June 16, 2024, at 10:00pm, Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old American girl, was sexually assaulted and killed in North Houston, Texas, United States. The case attracted national attention, as two illegal immigrants from Venezuela were charged with her murder.[1] Authorities found her body the next morning in a creek in North Houston and determined she had been raped and murdered by strangulation.[2] Texas prosecutors have indicted the suspects on charges of capital murder, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault.
Jocelyn Nungaray was born as Jocelyn Lisel Nungaray on December 27, 2011, as the older of two children.[3][4] She lived in North Houston with her mother and attended sixth grade after graduating from Gordon-Reed Elementary School in March 2024.[5][6]
Prelude
United States Border Patrol apprehended Johan José Martínez-Rangel near El Paso on March 14, 2024, but he was released the same day, on an order of release on recognizance, with a notice to appear in court at a later date. U.S. Border Patrol arrested Franklin José Peña Ramos on May 28, 2024, also near El Paso, but he was also released with a notice to appear in court at a later date.[7]
Killing
Nungaray snuck out of her home at 10 PM on June 16 to go to Houston.[8][9] The two accused men had started their evening at a restaurant. While walking, they met Jocelyn on Kuykendahl Road, and talked to her for a couple of minutes.[10] According to court documents, they were asking her for directions. The three then walked to a convenience store. After a few minutes, they walked together to a bridge on West Rankin Road,[11][failed verification] where Jocelyn was strangled. Court documents allege that the three of them were under the bridge for over two hours, during which Jocelyn was tied up and had her pants taken off.[7] Results from the Houston Forensic Science Center showed that the victim was sexually assaulted before her death.[12] The following morning, at around 6:15a.m. on June 17, police received a call about the discovery of Nungaray's body lying in a ditch near her home.[13]
Two suspects, identified as 22-year-old Johan José Martínez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin José Peña Ramos, were arrested on June 20 at 13355 Northborough Drive at the Canfield Lakes Apartments.[7] Both were charged with capital murder.[14] Police released surveillance images of the two suspects; their roommates, one of which was Peña's boss, reported them to the police.[15][16] Martínez-Rangel had bite and scratch marks on his arms at the time of his arrest.[17]
Court proceedings
Houston mayor John Whitmire had wanted both defendants to be held without bail indefinitely; on June 24, bond was set at $10 million for Peña.[18][19]
In the bail hearing on June 23, Harris County district attorney Kim Ogg stated that Peña had told police that he had kissed the victim, but that Martínez-Rangel was responsible for the murder and assault. Martínez-Rangel appeared in court the next day, and admitted to tying the victim's legs together and ordering Peña to throw her into a nearby creek. Both men were scheduled for a September 2024 return date to court.[16]
Ogg stated that the two suspects were not eligible for the death sentence under Texas law based on the victim's age (as Nungaray was older than 10 years of age); however, if it was found that Nungaray was kidnapped or raped, both would be eligible for the death sentence.[20] In September 2024, the suspects were charged with kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of Nungaray.[21]
On December 13, 2024, Ogg filed official notice to seek the death penalty for both defendants.[22]
Reactions
Texas governor Greg Abbott called for the death penalty for the two accused.[23] Presidential candidate and then-former president Donald Trump blamed his political rival and sitting president Joe Biden for Nungaray's death, claiming that the incumbent's immigration policy had led to her death. The Biden administration expressed their condolences to the Nungaray family.[13]Secretary of Homeland SecurityAlejandro Mayorkas stated that the murderers of Nungaray would be held accountable.[24]
Lieutenant Governor of TexasDan Patrick announced that he would introduce a law to block bail for capital murder suspects, named "Jocelyn's Law".[30] Texas Senator Ted Cruz announced the "Justice for Jocelyn" act in July 2024 that would introduce harsher measures against illegal immigrants.[31] Cruz mentioned Nungaray by name at his 2024 Republican National Convention speech on July 17.[2]
Trump, who later that year won reelection, mentioned Nungaray in his March 4, 2025 address to a joint session of Congress. During the address, after introducing her mother, he announced an executive order (14229) renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in her memory. Trump also mentioned her love for nature when renaming the refuge.[32]
While addressing the January 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump cited the murder of Nungaray as a rationale for capturing Maduro. He stated, without evidence, that the crime was committed by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, claiming the group had been “sent by Maduro to terrorize our people.”[33]
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