The heartbroken family of Jocelyn Nungaray heard how the young girl fought for her last breath as migrants raped and strangled her before dumping her body in a Houston bayou.
Jocelyn Nungaray’s body was found floating in a creek near her Houston home after she was lured under a bridge and sexually assaulted for two hours by Johan Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26.
Although prosecutors and police both believe the young girl was raped, the alleged attackers have not yet been charged with sexual assault, and the results of the victim’s rape case are still pending.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Tuesday, “The evidence is clear that a sexual assault probably occurred. But since neither defendant has actually admitted this, circumstantial evidence will have to prove this.”
“We are now awaiting laboratory testing to see if the murder charge can be upgraded to a death penalty charge,” Ogg said. Fox news.
If accused of sexual crimes, the prosecutor may seek the death penalty in this case.
During dramatic court scenes, one of Jocelyn’s relatives yelled “Murderer” at Rangel-Martinez, who has two children of her own, ages 5 and 2. Click2Houston reported.
She said in Spanish, “I hope they kill your children,” as the shackled Rangel-Martinez walked out of the Harris County courtroom Tuesday.
Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, pictured center, with other grief-stricken family members during a news conference Monday after one of the suspects, Franklin Pena, appeared in court Monday
Jocelyn’s mother Alexis hugs family members in the Harris Count courtroom
Jocelyn, 12, was lured under a bridge in Houston last week and sexually assaulted for two hours before being strangled by two illegal immigrants
Franklin Pena, one of two men accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, is led out of the courtroom after bail was set at $10 million
During the hearing, prosecutors said Martinez-Rangel had bite marks and scratches on his arm and had shaved off his facial hair after the killing to avoid detection.
Rangel Martinez still had marks left on him by Jocelyn when he was arrested, lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant District Attorney Megan Long, said in court.
Pena Ramos told police he allegedly tried to convince Rangel Martinez to stop, but he allegedly refused and climbed on top of Jocelyn and strangled her, Long said.
She also said Rangel Martinez allegedly told Pena Ramos to “finish what he started” while covering the young girl’s mouth.
The prosecutor said Rangel Martinez admitted to tying up Jocelyn and throwing her body into the bayou, but claimed he did not kill her. The New York Post reported.
On Monday, Peña Ramos, also charged with the 12-year-old’s murder, claimed he only kissed Jocelyn and denied any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, a judge set Rangel Martinez’s bail at $10 million, saying he was a potential flight risk. The same conditions applied to Pena Ramos.
Jocelyn’s distressed mother, Alexis, appeared in court. She said Monday she called the two men “monsters.”
‘She was amazing, I still see her face in the back of my mind every day, all day. I’ve been getting little signals about her all day long and it’s been a very, very difficult time for me and my family,” Nungaray said, according to the news channel.
“She had such a bright future ahead of her and I knew she would go very far and these monsters took advantage of that opportunity from her, from our family.”