JOHAN JOSE MARTINEZ RANGEL | Illegal Alien Lured 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray Under A Bridge Where He Remained With Her For Over 2 Hours, Took Her Pants Off, Raped Her, Tied Her Up, Strangled Her, Then Threw Her Body Into A Bayou | ALS

Johan Martinez. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Houston, TX. July 29, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

The case involving Johan Jose Martinez Rangel is a deeply disturbing one. Here are the details based on the latest available information:

• Suspects: Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, both Venezuelan nationals, have been charged with capital murder.

• Victim: The victim is 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was found in a north Houston creek.

• Incident: The suspects are accused of luring Jocelyn to a bridge, where she was found without her pants and with cuts on her body. Martinez-Rangel is said to have admitted to tying her up and suggested throwing her into the bayou to get rid of any DNA evidence.

• Evidence: Martinez-Rangel had bites and scratches on his arms when arrested, and evidence on his phone suggested he was looking for ways to leave the country.

• Legal Proceedings: A $10 million bond was set for Martinez-Rangel, and both suspects are under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds.

• Charges: Currently, neither suspect is eligible for the death penalty, but this could change if the ongoing investigation reveals underlying crimes like sexual assault or kidnapping.

On June 16, 2024, Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl, was killed in North Houston, Texas. The case attracted attention, as two illegal immigrants from Venezuela were charged with her murder. Authorities found her body the next morning in a creek in North Houston, and determined she had died by strangulation.

Inception

United States Border Patrol apprehended Johan José Martínez-Rangel near El Paso on March 14, but he was released that same day on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear in court at a later date. U.S. Border Patrol arrested Franklin José Peña Ramos on May 28, also near El Paso, but he was also released with a notice to appear in court at a later date.

Killing

Nungaray snuck out of her house at or after 10 PM on Sunday, June 16. 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 minutes. According to court documents, they were asking her for directions. The three of them then walked to a convenience store. After a few minutes, the three of them walked to a bridge, 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. Results from the Houston Forensic Science Center showed that the victim was sexually assaulted before her death. Early in the morning on June 17, police received a call about the discovery of Nungaray's body lying in a ditch near her home.

Two suspects, identified as 22-year-old Johan José Martínez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin José Peña Ramos, were arrested on Thursday, June 20, at 13355 Northborough Drive at the Canfield Lakes Apartments. Both were charged with capital murder. Police released surveillance images of the two suspects; their roommates, one of which was Peña's boss, reported them to the police. Martínez-Rangel had bite and scratch marks on his arms at the moment of arrest.

Court proceedings

Houston Mayor John Whitmire had wanted both defendants to be held without bail indefinitely; on Tuesday, June 24, bond was set at $10 million for Peña.[

In the bail hearing on June 23, the Harris Country Assistant District Attorney 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 are not set to return to court until September 2024.

Ogg stated that the two suspects were not eligible for the death sentence under Texas law due to the victim's age; however, if it was found that Nungaray was kidnapped or raped, both would be eligible for the death sentence.

Reactions

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for the death penalty for the two accused. Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden for the death of Nungaray, claiming that Biden's immigration policy had led to her death. The Biden administration expressed their condolences to the Nungaray family. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the murderers of Nungaray would be held accountable.

Nungaray was indirectly mentioned by Trump in the first 2024 presidential debate against Biden on June 27. Her funeral was held on the same day. Houston businessman Jim McIngvale paid for Jocelyn's funeral.

Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick announced that he would introduce a law to block bail for capital murder suspects, named "Jocelyn's Law". Texas Senator Ted Cruz announced the "Justice for Jocelyn" act in July 2024 that would introduce harsher measures against illegal immigrants.

The motive behind the crime involving Johan Jose Martinez Rangel is still under investigation. However, there are some details that have emerged from the statements of the co-defendant and the evidence gathered. Franklin Peña, the co-defendant, told investigators that Martinez-Rangel was the one who was on top of Jocelyn Nungaray during the incident. The lead prosecutor, Megan Long, mentioned that Martinez-Rangel admitted to a witness that he had done something bad, that he’d hurt someone, and that the person was dead. There was evidence on Martinez-Rangel's phone that he was looking for ways to leave the country, which suggests a possible awareness of guilt and an attempt to flee. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg indicated that it was likely a sexual assault occurred, and they are waiting for the results of a kit. If confirmed, this could be a part of the motive and may lead to additional charges.

• VIDEO: Men Accused of Raping, Strangling 12-Year-Old Texas Girl Blaming Each Other for Murder | https://youtu.be/dF_Fy8EFh6g

• VIDEO: Immigrants accused in 12-year-old's murder: Timeline | https://youtu.be/6afqxSWXAHA

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