Killing of Jocelyn Nungaray

On June 16, 2024, at around 10 p.m., 12-year-old Jocelyn Lisel Nungaray left her home in North Houston, Texas. She encountered two men who, according to court documents, initially asked her for directions. The group walked together to a convenience store and then to a bridge on West Rankin Road, where they remained for over two hours. Court documents allege Nungaray was tied up, had her pants removed, and was strangled. Forensic testing by the Houston Forensic Science Center indicated she had been sexually assaulted before her death. Her body was discovered the following morning, June 17, in a nearby creek/ditch after police received a call around 6:15 a.m.

Jocelyn was born December 27, 2011, the older of two children, and had attended Gordon-Reed Elementary School until her family moved to North Houston in March 2024.

Two men, 22-year-old Johan José Martínez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin José Peña Ramos, were identified via surveillance images and arrested on June 20, 2024, at an apartment complex after their roommates — one of whom was Peña's employer — reported them to police. Both were charged with capital murder. Martínez-Rangel reportedly had bite and scratch marks on his arms at the time of arrest.

At a June 23 bail hearing, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg stated that Peña told police he had kissed the victim but that Martínez-Rangel was responsible for the murder and assault. The next day, Martínez-Rangel appeared in court and admitted to tying the victim's legs and directing Peña to throw her into a creek. Bond was set at $10 million for Peña on June 24. In September 2024, both men were additionally charged with kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. Ogg noted that under Texas law the pair were not initially eligible for the death penalty due to the victim's age, but that a finding of kidnapping or rape would make them eligible. On December 13, 2024, Ogg filed formal notice to seek the death penalty against both defendants.

Both men had prior contact with U.S. Border Patrol before the killing: Martínez-Rangel was apprehended near El Paso on March 14, 2024, and released with a notice to appear in court; Peña Ramos was apprehended near El Paso on May 28, 2024, and similarly released.

The case drew significant national political attention. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for the death penalty for the accused. Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump linked the killing to the Biden administration's immigration policy, referencing the case during the June 27, 2024 presidential debate, the same day as Jocelyn's funeral, which was paid for by Houston businessman Jim McIngvale. The Biden administration expressed condolences, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said those responsible would be held accountable. Texas officials proposed related legislation, including a bail-reform measure dubbed "Jocelyn's Law" by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and a "Justice for Jocelyn" act announced by Senator Ted Cruz. In March 2025, President Trump referenced Nungaray while announcing an executive order renaming a national wildlife refuge in her memory. He later cited her killing in connection with 2026 U.S. military action in Venezuela.