July 2024. Blues Vol 40 No.7

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY HOUSTON, TX. An illegal immigrant accused of raping and murdering 12-year old Jocelyn Nungaray, wore an ICE ankle monitor when the crime occurred. HOUSTON, TX. – A suspect in the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston last month was wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) ankle bracelet at the time of the crime. Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, one of the suspects behind the murder, appeared in court at the Harris County Criminal Courts, where it was revealed that he was wearing the ankle monitor at the time he allegedly murdered Nungaray. The ankle bracelet was provided to him when he was arrested by Border Patrol agents after entering the country illegally and being released from custody, with ICE telling Fox News in a statement Friday that he “illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.” Judge Josh Hill, who presided over Monday’s proceedings, also noted that Ramos and 21-yearold Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, the other suspect in the case, faced allegations that they were attempting to gather money to flee town. Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek this week. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family) The judge set Ramos’ bail to million during the appearance, more than double the million requested by prosecutors. Pena’s defense had suggested a bail set at million, but the judge argued he represented an “astronomical” flight risk and said the chances of the suspect returning to court would be “near zero.” If Ramos were to make bail, the judge ordered that he must wear a GPS monitor, be on house arrest 24/7, remain in Harris County, have no contact with the other suspect or the victim’s family, not have contact with anyone under the age of 18, not be in possession of firearms, drugs, or alcohol, and to surrender his passport. Ramos and Martinez are accused of luring the young girl under a bridge in Houston before tying her up and killing her. “In this case the defendant lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over 2 hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou,” Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote. Investigators were able to use 48 The Blues - July ‘24

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez have been charged in the killing of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas, on Monday, June 17. (Harris County Jail) surveillance video to track the movements of the two before and after the killing, police said. “In this case the defendant lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over 2 hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou,” Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote. Fox News reported that the two suspects from Venezuela had entered the U.S. illegally before being released from custody. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed the news on Friday, saying in a statement that “Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.” “On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear,” the spokesperson added. “Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended.” Investigators used surveillance video to track the movements of Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos before and after the killing, Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope said. Houston Mayor John Whitmire said that Nungaray had been at a convenience store, talking to her 13-year-old boyfriend on the phone after sneaking out of her family’s apartment. The boyfriend told investigators that he could hear Nungaray talking with two people. Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos, meanwhile, started their evening at a restaurant together on Sunday night, police said. They left the restaurant and then were seen meeting with Nungaray and talking to her for a few minutes. Later, Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos, along with Jocelyn, walked to a 7-Eleven convenience store. Afterward, the three of them walked to a bridge, where investigators said Nungaray was murdered. Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos then walked to the apartment they shared and left the girl’s body behind, police said. Police believe the pair lived in the same apartment complex as Nungaray. The Blues - July ‘24 49