Two men accused of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in Texas blamed each other for the heinous act. Last month, Houston police arrested Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, for the death of Jocelyn Nungaray.
Both are accused of capital murder of a person aged 10 to 15. The guys, who illegally crossed the United States-Mexico border, face the death penalty and are being held at the Harris County Jail on a $10 million bail and a hold from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The warrant requests phone data from Peña and Martinez, as well as police interviews with the suspects regarding their interactions with Nungaray, referred to as “J.N.” According to Peña, he and Martinez went to a bar at 3 p.m. on June 16 and stayed until about 10 p.m.
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They started heading home but got lost and found up at a 7-Eleven gas station, where they encountered Nungaray, who had sneaked out of her home, according to the warrant.
Martinez asked her for instructions, and together with Nungaray, they began going west on Rankin Road. According to the warrant, Peña reported Martinez kissing Nungaray on the lips while walking. Martinez allegedly grabbed the girl’s neck and led her beneath the bridge as they approached a bayou, according to Peña. Martinez allegedly removed Jocelyn’s pants as he held her down.
“Franklin said he told Johan to stop and that they should leave, however, Johan told him ‘I have to finish what I started,'” according to the warrant!
According to the warrant, Peña claimed Martinez killed Nungaray by choking him. Martinez allegedly chained her hands and feet together before throwing her into the sea to destroy any DNA evidence. According to police, Peña denied touching Nungaray. According to Peña, Martinez removed his clothes and shaved his beard before leaving the scene.
“Franklin stated he asked Johan why he shaved his beard and Johan told him, ‘So that they do not recognize me,'” according to the warrant.
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Martinez told cops that Peña was “solely responsible” for the crime. He allegedly acknowledged binding the victim’s arms and legs and instructing Peña to immerse her body in water to remove DNA.
A passerby discovered Nungaray’s body in the sea just before 7 a.m. on June 17. The heinous nature of the crime angered the community, prompting authorities to release surveillance photographs of the perpetrators.
According to the warrant, a roommate informed officers of the suspects’ identity after Peña told him that he and Martinez made a mistake after drinking on Sunday night (6/16/2024) and wounded someone, who is now deceased. Police raided the flat and arrested Peña and Martinez.
Alexis Nungaray, the victim’s mother, addressed reporters at a press conference following the arrest of the perpetrators. She described the fortitude her daughter gave her when she fell pregnant as a teenager. Jocelyn will be remembered for her “dorkiness and quirkiness,” according to her mother.
“She made people laugh,” Nungaray remarked, holding back tears. “I will always remember her recollections since she had such a promising future ahead of her. I knew she was going to go far, and these villains took away our family’s ability to watch her.”
The family is heartbroken.
“I’m angry that they took advantage of her,” her mother earlier told local CBS affiliate KHOU while in tears. “She was young. She was 12, and you took my baby away. Now I got to tell her younger brother that his big sister will never come home.”
A family friend created a GoFundMe campaign to assist pay for burial and other expenses. “Her family was not prepared for such a loss and needed help to give her daughter the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory, and to say our last goodbyes,” the event’s organizer stated.