Illegal immigrant suspected killers of Jocelyn Nungaray lured 12-year-old to bridge, tied her up, threw her body in Texas bayou: prosecutors

The two illegal immigrants accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston this week "lured" her under a bridge before they tied her up, took her pants off, and strangled her to death, according to new court documents obtained by Fox News.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, were arrested on capital murder charges over the death of Nungaray. Both of them are Venezuelan nationals who illegally entered the US through El Paso, Texas. Ramos illegally entered on May 28, and Martinez illegally entered on March 14. Both suspects were captured and released by Biden's border agents the same day they were apprehended, according to ICE.

Prosecutors requested bail to be set at $1 million for each defendant.

"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," wrote Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner, per the network.


(Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, right. Harris County Jail)

Investigators used surveillance footage to track Martinez and Ramos before and after the killing, allegedly pinning them to the crime, said Houston Police Lt. Stephen Hope.

Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Friday that Martinez and Ramos were in the US illegally. A spokesperson said the pair "illegally entered the US without inspection, parole or admission by a US immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location."

"On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the US Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognition with a notice to appear," the spokesperson added, per Fox News. "Pena was apprehended by the US Border Patrol on May 2 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended."

The incident occurred on Sunday night, according to police documents.

Police said Martinez and Ramos started their evening at a restaurant and then were spotted on surveillance video walking southbound. They were captured on video having a meeting with Nungaray. The three chatted for several minutes then walked to a 7-Eleven convenience store.

The victim's boyfriend, age 13, told police that he was on the phone with Nungaray when she was at a convenience store. He said he could hear her talking to two men over the phone.

All three of them left the convenience store and walked to a bridge where the victim was found dead in the creek below. The two suspects left the area and walked to their apartment complex, leaving Nungary's dead body behind. Police believe Ramos and Martinez lived in the same apartment complex as the victim.