A 12-year-old who loved Harry Potter and old music: What we know about Jocelyn Nungaray and the men accused in her death

By CNN Newsource

Published June 27, 2024 3:30 AM

By Christina Zdanowicz, CNN

(CNN) — Twelve-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was walking to a convenience store in Houston when she disappeared, police say; she was found dead in a creek earlier this month.

Two undocumented men from Venezuela are accused of killing the girl and both are facing charges of capital murder in her death, according to the Houston Police Department. Both are being held on a $10 million bond this week, court records show.

As Jocelyn’s family laid her to rest Thursday, remembering her as a kind, good-hearted child who was her mother’s best friend, Mayor John Whitmire called for justice, reminding attendees that children “are not supposed to be taken off the streets of Houston.”

This is also the latest case to bring immigration to the forefront as a critical issue this election year, as the two men were in the country illegally, according to the US Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Here’s what we know so far about the cases around Jocelyn’s death:

Who was Jocelyn?

Born on December 27, 2011, Jocelyn’s family called her a “loyal, compassionate and caring friend” who supported those around her, her obituary says. Her kindness and “zest for life” are among the things her family wants people to remember her for.

At her celebration of life service, Jocelyn’s sister Gabby remembered how the two of them would laugh, play, cry and “get on each other’s nerves.” She described her older sister as smart and having a good heart.

“Jossy also gave me courage to be myself and speak up for myself and for that I will always be grateful to you. I love you, Jossy,” Gabby said.

Jocelyn loved animals and wanted them all to have homes, not understanding why some were strays. Green was her favorite color.

Jocelyn enjoyed fantasy, whether it was the magic of Harry Potter, vampire-film classic “Twilight” or the upside down of TV’s “Stranger Things,” her obituary reads. She even had a crush on “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard.

She is survived by her mother, Alexis, brother, and “sister” Gabby, as well as her grandparents and numerous family members.

What happened to Jocelyn?

Surveillance footage of the area obtained by detectives showed the suspects at a restaurant together the evening of June 16, Lt. Stephen Hope of the Houston Police Department said at a news conference after their arrests.

The men left on foot and were later seen meeting and talking with Jocelyn, Hope said, before all three walked to a convenience store.

A few minutes later, Hope said, they went to a bridge. Prosecutors allege the men killed Jocelyn and threw her body in the bayou.

Jocelyn’s body was found along West Rankin Road in a shallow creek in north Houston early in the morning of June 17, authorities have said.

The 12-year-old was strangled to death, according to the medical examiner, the Associated Press reported.

What we know about the accused men

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, were arrested June 20, three days after Jocelyn’s strangled body was found in the creek, according to the Houston Police Department.

Both men are from Venezuela and entered the US illegally, a spokesperson for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement told CNN. Where and when they entered the country is unclear, the spokesperson said, but each had been apprehended near El Paso by US Border Patrol – Martinez-Rangel on March 14 and Peña Ramos on May 28 – and released with a notice to appear in court in the future.

An attorney for Peña Ramos declined to comment. An attorney for Martinez-Rangel did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Where are the suspects now?

Both men are under immigration holds by federal authorities, according to the AP, which means they could not leave custody even if they could post bond.

Family and community reaction

After her daughter’s body was found, Alexis Nungaray cried as she realized the heartbreaking news she would have to share with her family.

“I’m, like, angry that they took advantage of her. She was so young. She was 12. You took my baby away, you took her away,” the mother told CNN affiliate KHOU on June 19. “Now, I get to let her little brother know his older sister is never coming home.”

At a news conference on June 24, Nungaray shared her frustration that her daughter’s life was taken from her.

“She had such a bright future ahead of her and I knew she was going to go very far. And, you know, these monsters took that opportunity from her,” she said.

Laying her to rest

During Thursday’s celebration of life service, one of Jocelyn’s favorite songs, “Coney Island Baby,” flowed through the crowded room as a slideshow of her life played. The song is from the 1960s and way before her time, but it fit Jocelyn’s eclectic music tastes.

Stories emerged about Jocelyn and her sister making slime together and watching sunsets, reminding the room of a life lost too soon.

Her great-aunt broke down in tears, but she stirred some laughs when she talked about Jossy’s love for books.

“Jossy loved to read. Anytime we were at Walmart or any store, that girl would try to beeline for the book section all day, every day,” she said.

A reception is being hosted at Gallery Furniture on North Freeway in Houston after the celebration of life to support the family, according to a Facebook post from the store owner. Jim McIngvale, known as “Mattress Mack,” is well known for his charitable work, like turning his stores into shelters to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey and other severe weather events.

CNN’s Rosa Flores, Dakin Andone, Sara Weisfeldt and Colin Jeffery contributed to this report.

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