The two suspects in the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray have made their first court appearance.
The 12-year-old girl’s family heard in harsh detail what happened to Jocelyn. Prosecutors say she fought like a superhero, fighting with her dying breath, leaving visible marks. Johan Jose Rangel Martinez and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, tie her hands behind her back, bind her feet, take off her shirt, and abuse her for hours under a bridge in north Houston.
Even though the police and the prosecutor believe Jocelyn was raped before she was strangled, the suspects are not charged with sexual assault as the rape kit results are still pending. The Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, says they believe the evidence is clear that a sexual assault likely took place, but the defendants are not admitting yet.
However, if the lab tests confirm that 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was raped, the capital murder charge can be upgraded to one where they are death penalty eligible.
In a dramatic court scene, a family member of Jocelyn Nungaray shouts “murderer” at Rangel-Martinez, while another shouts in Spanish, “I hope they kill your children.”
It has been reported the suspected murderer has two children.
Currently, both Martinez-Rangel and Peña are charged with capital murder, and a judge has set their bond at $10 million.
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[Feature Photo: Jocelyn Nungaray/Houston PD]
