HOUSTON – KPRC 2 has been tracking the latest information in the case of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the girl who was found strangled on June 17 in a creek in north Houston.
Jocelyn’s death sent waves of shock throughout the Houston area as the search for those involved in her murder was still on the run.
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As more information becomes available, we will give you the latest updates in this case.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to Jocelyn’s death and finding answers as to what happened:
June 16, 2024
The night before Jocelyn’s death, her mother, Alexis Nungaray, told KPRC 2 the last time she saw her daughter alive was Sunday night before they went to bed around 10 p.m. Her last words to Jocelyn were not to stay up late, stating that she was coming with her mother to work the next day.
Houston police said Jocelyn snuck out of the family’s apartment on Rankin Road sometime between 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Investigators said Jocelyn’s boyfriend was the last person who spoke with her on the phone. He reportedly told officials that he heard her speaking with the two men at the gas station before they hung up.
Christian Goffney, who works at the 7-Eleven on Rankin and Kuykendahl, said he had just gotten off when he noticed Jocelyn hiding behind a nearby storage unit around 11:30 p.m. He noticed police in the area but did not think anything was wrong.
June 17, 2024
Around 12:17 a.m., surveillance photos show Jocelyn at the 7-Eleven convenience store. In these images, investigators saw two men, later identified as persons of interest in connection.
Around 3 a.m., Alexis said Jocelyn’s cat was “going crazy,” but thought the cat was with her daughter since she sleeps with her pet at night.
Around 6:15 a.m., a woman called police and told them she saw a body while driving past a creek near 400 West Rankin Road
The Houston Police Department Dive Team responded and recovered the body.
At the same time police responded to reports of a body, Alexis said she woke up and started her normal routine -- waking up her 5-year-old son and Jocelyn. This is when she noticed Jocelyn was missing.
She said she looked everywhere around the house, walked around their apartment complex and then got into her car. Alexis reportedly pinged her daughter’s cell phone location, which traced back to the creek where she ran and saw police officers canvassing the area.
The mother said she told officers that her daughter was missing, and it wasn’t until an hour later that she received a call that the body found was possibly Jocelyn.
At 5:30 p.m., HPD held a news conference alerting the media and community about the body in the creek. Houston Mayor John Whitmire joined police officers to discuss the discovery of the 12-year-old girl’s body being recovered.
Investigators said foul play was involved in her death and they were searching for those involved.
June 18, 2024
During a Houston City Council meeting around noon, Mayor Whitmire said the boyfriend of the 12-year-old girl was talking with two adults before she was killed.
“It appears that he last talked to her at a convenience store around midnight and heard her talking to two grown-ups,” he said on Tuesday.
A source told KPRC 2 that the 7/11 on Rankin and Kuykendahl had surveillance of the girl inside the store. Christian Goffney, who works at the store, told KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel that he would see the 12-year-old girl at the 7/11 regularly.
At 8:14 p.m., Houston police announced that the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled that the 12-year-old died from strangulation. Police also released several surveillance photos from the 7-Eleven convenience store of the two persons of interest they wanted to question in connection to the girl’s death.
Investigators told KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry the two men were the last to be seen with the girl and they don’t believe they ever left the area. The men did not arrive at the store with the girl, investigators said, but instead initially crossed paths there.
The family asked for help in getting the perpetrators off the streets.
June 19, 2024
Harris County medical examiners confirmed the girl’s identity as 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
A source gave KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel new surveillance photos of Jocelyn at the convenience store around 12:17 a.m. on June 17. In the video, she reportedly came back to the store where she and the man in the white hat were at the door around 12:58 a.m.
The family set up a GoFundMe for a tribute to Jocelyn. They also said they were planning a memorial.
Around 5 p.m., Alexis spoke publically about her daughter’s murder for the first time.
Tears streamed down Alexis’ face as she spoke with KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel.
Alexis described her daughter as “goofy,” and said she had her own “little spunk.”
She also said Jocelyn never followed the crowd.
“She always stood up for what was right,” said Alexis.
The heartbroken mom said she feels like she’s in an alternative universe where she is living this ongoing nightmare that doesn’t stop.
Alexis said she knows her daughter fought hard and was a fighter, repeating that, “she needs justice, she didn’t deserve this.”
She said she and Jocelyn have gone through a lot these past few months with her mental health.
June 20, 2024
Sources tipped KPRC 2 that two men, considered persons of interest, were captured by police.
The KPRC 2 cameras were the only ones present at the scene when police detained the two men who were last seen with the teenager.
At 2 p.m. Houston police released more details about the two men that were detained.
Investigators said the two men were now suspects after investigators found evidence linked to Jocelyn’s murder inside their apartment.
The suspects, identified as Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, are both being charged with capital murder.
Surveillance videos trace suspects’ steps
Detectives revealed that Martinez and Ramos started their evening at a Northborough area restaurant together and then walked southbound.
The reportedly continued south and were first seen on camera, images that were first released to the public by HPD, and met with Jocelyn on Kuykendahl Road.
Later, the suspects and victim walked together to the 7-Eleven off Rankin and Kuykendahl roads, where additional surveillance video shows all three together.
After a few minutes at the convenience store, all three walked to a bridge where Jocelyn was murdered, police said. The suspects reportedly continued walking south to their residence, leaving the girl’s body in the creek.
June 21, 2024
After learning about the arrests of Martinez and Pena, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a statement saying that the two men were both illegal immigrants from Venezuela who had been detained and released by the U.S. Border Patrol a month before the murder.
“Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location. On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended,” the ICE statement read, in part.
Court documents reveal further details
KPRC 2 obtained court documents, stating that Martinez-Rangel and Pena did not know Jocelyn prior to that night. They allegedly asked her for directions at the 7-Eleven and lured her to the bridge.
Investigators believe that the men remained there with her for over two hours, removing her pants, tying her up, killing her, and throwing her body into the bayou in an attempt to remove DNA evidence.
After, investigators said the suspects walked back to their apartment.
There has not been a ruling on bond for the men, and that duty has been referred to District Court Judge Josh Hill. Both men are due in court at 9 a.m. Monday morning.
Candlelight vigil
The family of Jocelyn Nungaray held a candlelight vigil to honor the 12-year-old girl whose life was senselessly taken.
The vigil was from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday night, Jocelyn’s grandmother told KPRC 2. She added that it took place at the creek near 400 West Rankin Road, the area where the girl’s body was found Monday morning.
Mayor Whitmire and Acting HPD Police Chief Larry Satterwhite were in attendance.
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale also appeared at the vigil to show his support. He will be covering Jocelyn’s funeral expenses, KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry reports.
PC court
Downtown at PC court, prosecutors revealed that Pena and Martinez-Rangel did not know Nungaray prior to that night. They also said that the girl’s wrists and ankles were bound together when her body was discovered.
The magistrate at tonight’s hearing referred the issue of the suspects’ bond to District Court Judge Josh Hill. The two men are scheduled to appear in court first thing Monday morning.
June 24, 2024
A $10 million bond was set for Franklin Peña, 26, during Monday’s court appearance.
KPRC 2′s Re’Chelle Turner was at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center to provide updates.
Peña stood in front of a District Court judge while handcuffed wearing a yellow jumpsuit. Prosecutors gave a rundown of the suspects’ whereabouts the night of June 17 before Jocelyn’s body was discovered in a north Houston creek.
Prosecutors said Martinez Rangel grabbed Jocelyn around the neck, got on top of her and put his hands over her mouth.
After the murder, prosecutors say the suspects were looking for money to get out of town and that Martinez Rangel shaved his beard to avoid detection.
The judge and attorneys also spoke about the death penalty in this case once lab results are confirmed. At this time, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said the current charges the suspects face does not make them eligible for the death penalty.
During a news conference, Ogg said if lab results show that sexual assault happened, they would become eligible for the death penalty.
June 25, 2024
Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, the second accused killer made his first court appearance.
Initially, he denied any wrongdoing, but prosecutors said Franklin Peña, who made his court appearance Monday and is accused of killing the 12-year-old with Martinez-Rangel, claimed he only kissed Jocelyn.
On Tuesday though, prosecutors said Martinez-Rangel admitted to tying her legs and had bite marks/scratches on his arm. He also instructed Peña to throw Jocelyn’s body in the creek to get rid of DNA. He also shaved his facial hair after the murder to avoid being detected.
His defense attorneys meanwhile claimed Martinez-Rangel does not have a previous criminal history and has two children, ages 5 and 2, but it’s unclear if they live in Houston or in Venezuela, where he and Peña are originally from. However, he does have family here and was requesting to have his bond lowered. A judge gave him a $10 million bond and the same conditions as Peña.
As Martinez-Rangel was escorted out of court, one of Jocelyn’s family members shouted “Murderer” and “I hope they kill your children” in Spanish.
The lead prosecutor also said detectives were able to get inside Martinez-Rangel’s phone. He researched ways to get out of the country.
June 27, 2024
Funeral services for Jocelyn Nungaray were held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Earthman Resthaven Cemetery on North Freeway.
Following the service, a celebration of life will be held at Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture on North Freeway. Mattress Mack announced he would be covering the 12-year-old’s funeral costs.
The public was invited to both events.
Harris County D.A. Kim Ogg also sat down with KPRC 2 reporter Brittany Jeffers to break down the case.
June 28, 2024
Arrest warrants released by the Harris County District Clerk’s office have revealed new details into the timeline between 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s murder and the arrest of her alleged killers, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Pena.
The documents say that Wednesday night—three days after Jocelyn’s murder—officers received a phone call from a man in Laredo, Texas. The man said his cousin, who he referred to as “Joe,” lived in Houston, and he had sent him text messages saying that he believed he was living with the two men responsible for Jocelyn’s death.
August 2, 2024
Senator Ted Cruz is joined by Jocelyn Nungaray’s family to propose a new law called the “Justice for Jocelyn Act” to crack down on the Department of Homeland Security’s “Alternative to Detention.”
August 21, 2024
Suspect Franklin Pena’s attorney requests a protective order from the court, alleging District Attorney Kim Ogg is jeopardizing his client’s right to a fair trial by talking about the case. The attorney cites an interview Ogg did with KPRC 2 on June 27.
“The media accounts concerning this case have contained an undue number of extra-judicial statements by outgoing District Attorney Kim Ogg,” Pena’s attorney argue.
Here is the motion filed for court:
August 22, 2024
Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, spoke alongside former President Donald Trump at an event at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona Thursday afternoon.
September 10, 2024
Alexis Nungaray delivered emotional testimony on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to pass the Justice for Jocelyn Act, a bill aimed at addressing gaps in the Department of Homeland Security’s “Alternatives to Detention” program.
September 11, 2024
A judge rejected the protective order filed by Pena’s attorneys, ruling the wording of the potential gag order was too broad since it ordered speech restrictions on thousands of employees, including those with the Houston Police Department, the forensic center, and courtroom personnel. Later that day, a new gag order was issued by Judge Hill offering many of the restrictions on public communications that Peña’s attorneys were hoping to have enacted.
The primary difference is that these limitations are only enforced on the parties directly involved in the case, including the attorneys, witnesses, and others affiliated with the case. The order even extends to staffing interns at the attorney’s respective offices.
We will continue to update this story as more developments become available.