The Harris County District Attorney's Office has requested bonds to be set at $1 million for each of the two men accused of the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are accused of capital murder. According to ICE, both men are Venezuelan nationals and were in the U.S. illegally. ICE said the two were both arrested by U.S. Border Patrol earlier this year near El Paso on separate occasions but were then released back into the country.
Capital murder of a child between the ages of 10 and 15 years old is not a death penalty case under state law. However, the district attorney's office said if there is evidence shown that proves a sexual assault took place, the death penalty would become a possibility. The suspects would also be eligible for no bond. There was no bond set during a Friday hearing.
Court documents state that on Monday, June 17, the men enticed Jocelyn to be around them under a bridge. Then, they kept her there for more than two hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her. The suspects are then accused of throwing her body in the bayou. She was found Monday in a Greenspoint creek.
Both suspects are currently scheduled to appear before Judge Josh Hill in 232nd District Court on Monday.
Photo: Houston Police Department