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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Sinister twist in migrant 'murder' of Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, sparked by rape claim from U.S. woman on vacation
One of the two migrants charged in the cold-blooded rape and murder of a 12-year-old Texas girl has now been linked to the rape of an American woman on vacation in Costa Rica. The murder of Joycelyn Nungaray, 12, became an immigration flashpoint last summer after the suspects in her brutal slaying were revealed to be Venezuelan migrants who entered the country illegally just months before. Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, are accused of luring Jocelyn Nungaray, who had snuck out of her house late at night, underneath a bridge. After spending two hours with her there, the Venezuelan men emerged alone, and the raped and strangled body of the girl had been dumped in a near-by bayou. Now, a US citizen woman who was vacationing in Costa Rica told authorities she was raped by Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, reported Fox 26. The attack in Central America happened before Nungaray was killed June 17, presumably as Pena was en route to America from his native South America. The unidentified woman went to Costa Rican authorities after she was attacked, but was ignored, revealed Kim Ogg, who was district attorney in Houston until January. 'When she reported it to the authorities in Costa Rica, they did nothing,' Ogg explained. 'Imagine the frustration of that individual. I don't want that to be swept under the carpet.' Ogg added that learning about the Costa Rica victim last year was key to the Harris County DA's office's decision to seek the death penalty for both men in Nungaray's case. The woman, who does not live in Texas, reached out to Ogg's office after seeing Pena's photo plastered all over the news after Nungaray's death. 'Authorities had no idea of their past behavior- if they had criminal charges in Venezuela or another country- that makes it hard to determine if someone is going to be a future danger,' the former prosecutor told the Houston TV station. The migrants have been accused of having links to Venezuelan super gang Tren de Aragua. Ogg says she's making making the Costa Rica alleged rape public now since she fears the new DA, who has recently dismissed several cases, will be plea down the charges in the Nungaray case. reached out to the new DA, Sean Teare, who did not comment on Ogg's allegations but shared that Pena is due back in court for a non-trial setting Monday at 9:30 a.m. However, the Pena and Martinez will be tried separately for their capital murder charges in the pre-teen case, no sooner than 2026 her mother told in March. The grieving mother learned of the woman's sexual assault just recently. 'I always felt in my heart that this was never their first time, especially Pena,' mom Alexis Nungaray told the local outlet. 'To just know that this happened to another woman, it hurts my heart. A piece of me shatters a little bit.' Former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed that one of two men accused in the sexual assault and death of Jocelyn Nungaray has been accused in a second rape Booking photos of Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, now charged with capital murder in the death of 12-yr-old Jocelyn Nungaray on June 17 It's unclear what role Pena played in Nungaray's murder and rape, as both illegal immigrants have turned on each, trying to minimize their own culpability. After sneaking out in the middle of the night of the Texas apartment she shared with her mom and younger brother in June, the two men approached Nungaray on the street near her home. She willingly went with them to a convenience store and later under a bridge where she was raped and strangled over a two-hour period. Franklin Pena claims he never even touched Jocelyn, saying it was Martinez-Rangel who wrapped his forearm around Jocelyn's neck while standing behind her and walked her under the bridge, according to TV station Fox 26. Martinez-Rangel laid Jocelyn onto her back, according to Pena, and took her pants off. He then described how Martinez-Rangel climbed on top of her while holding her arms down. Pena tried to intervene, telling Martinez-Rangel to stop and that they should leave, but Martinez-Rangel responded, 'I have to finish what I started.' Martinez-Rangel then strangled her using his forearm, killing her and binding her hands and feet together. The images show a relaxed Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, walking into the 7-Eleven in North Houston with a man and willing leaving with him Video shows Johan Jose Martínez Rangel, one of the two men accused of killing Jocelyn Nungaray, on the night he and Franklin Peña Ramos were seen with the young girl It was Martinez-Rangel's idea-- Pena claimed-- to move her body into the water to destroy any DNA. Pena also accused Martinez-Rangel of shaving his beard after the murder so that he would not be recognized. In his own police interview, Martinez-Rangel initially denied he had killed Jocelyn, however, in later talks with investigators, he did fuss up. He admitted to making the decision to tie her up and put her in the water. However, it was Pena, who asked his boss at the construction company where he worked for money to leave Houston after the murder but before the Venezuelan duo was arrested, prosecutors alleged in court.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Suspect in Jocelyn Nungaray case accused of raping American woman in Costa Rica
The Brief The former Harris County District Attorney says one suspect in the Jocelyn Nungaray case has a past of sexual assault. She says the rape happened in Costa Rica to an American victim who was on vacation. Alexis Nungaray responded to the shocking update, saying she admires the young woman for coming forward. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - Former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is sharing evidence in the Jocelyn Nungaray case that hasn't been made public, until now. The backstory Ogg was the DA when Capital Murder charges were filed against Johan Jose Martinez Rangel and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos in the killing and sexual assault of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in June 2024. The case quickly made national headlines as Rangel and Pena were found to be undocumented Venezuelan nationals, with possible gang ties, who were in the U.S. illegally. Ogg says her office worked diligently evaluating evidence to seek the death penalty in the case. "Authorities had no idea of their past behavior - if they had criminal charges in Venezuela or another country - that makes it hard to determine if someone is going to be a future danger," she said. But she says there was a break in that investigation and now, Ogg is sharing with FOX 26, a key piece of evidence that helped secure the death penalty option. What we know "What we learned over the course of the investigation was that one of the suspects, Pena, had been involved in a prior sexual assault," said Ogg. Ogg says an American woman was on vacation when Pena attacked her. "It happened in Costa Rica. It happened to an American citizen who came forward with that information after their pictures were shown on national television," she said. Ogg continued, "When she reported it to the authorities in Costa Rica, they did nothing. Imagine the frustration of that individual. I don't want that to be swept under the carpet." She says that the woman is from out of state, but was compelled to come forward. "The courage of any crime victim to come forward like that is remarkable to me and that played a major role in determining whether the death penalty is appropriate," said Ogg. Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn's mother, was shocked - but not surprised by the development. "I always felt in my heart that this was never their first time, especially Pena," she said. "To just know that this happened to another woman, it hurts my heart. A piece of me shatters a little bit." Alexis says she's a bit weary of what the new development could mean for the case, but hopes it means more will see the potential danger these suspects pose - and encourage any victims to use their voice. "I pray that no other woman has had to look in his eyes while they have their vulnerability taken from them, but if there are any others, I pray that they have the courage and the strength to come forward and help shed light on an open case," she said. What they're saying Ogg has known this information since her office sought the death penalty, and FOX26 asked, why come forward with it now? "Because I am very concerned about the decisions my successor district attorney has been making," she said, referencing multiple cases that have recently been dismissed. "I think it's important for the public to get the final say. Do they deserve death for the rape and murder of Jocelyn? Or should they spend their life in the penitentiary? What I don't want is some backdoor deal done in the quiet of the night and a long time after people have forgotten the horror of this case. I just want people to remember Jocelyn and I want them to hear and make a decision about the evidence," said Ogg. Alexis echoed the importance of Pena's criminal history being known. "I see this as a re-occurring re-offender scenario and, because he wasn't held accountable for his actions when he did this to the other young woman - he should be held accountable for this young child whose life was taken," said Alexis. What's next FOX 26 reached out to the Harris County District Attorney's Office asking if the current administration would like to respond to Ogg's statements. They declined to comment. Both Rangel and Pena are set to be arraigned next month. The Source This article was written using information from the former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Jocelyn's mother, Alexis Nungaray and previous FOX26 reporting.
