Texas Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Child Murder Case Involving Illegal Immigrants

Date:

Harris County prosecutors announced Friday they will pursue capital punishment for two Venezuelan nationals charged with the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas, a case that has intensified national debate over immigration policies.

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, face capital murder charges for allegedly kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and strangling the young girl in June. Her body was discovered in a creek on June 17, with medical examiners confirming strangulation as the cause of death.

District Attorney Kim Ogg emphasized the particularly heinous nature of the crime, noting that both suspects had previously been detained at the border but were released with notices to appear in court. Martinez-Rangel was apprehended in March and Peña in May near El Paso before their release.

2-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray

The case has become politically charged, with Nungaray’s mother campaigning for President-elect Donald Trump and advocating for stricter border control. The incident joins other high-profile cases, including the recent life sentence of Jose Ibarra for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, in fueling debate over immigration enforcement.

Both suspects remain in custody under $10 million bonds each. The prosecution will transition to incoming District Attorney Sean Teare following Ogg’s departure at month’s end. Defense attorney Daniel Werlinger indicated prosecutors had previously notified them of the death penalty decision.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

Boston Box Truck Crash: Multiple Injured After Vehicle Hits Pedestrians and Storefront

Multiple people were rushed to the hospital Tuesday afternoon...

Lancaster Walmart Shooting: Two Injured, One Detained in South Carolina Incident

Two people were injured in a shooting at a...

4th Missing US Army Soldier Found Dead in Lithuania After Bog Accident

The body of the fourth U.S. Army soldier who...

Attorney General Pam Bondi Seeks Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione in CEO’s Murder

Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Tuesday that federal prosecutors...