One of the accused killers of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray is believed to be the son of a former Venezuelan official who supports the country’s socialist president. Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and his accomplice Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are allegedly responsible for the gruesome murder of the preteen in Houston last month, as confirmed by the city’s Forensic Science Center.
Martinez-Rangel, who was arrested last month, is reportedly the son of Nazareth Rangel Palacios, a former councilwoman and a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Rangel Palacios is also a supporter of President Nicolas Maduro, according to the Daily Mail. The South American country’s electoral registry shows Martinez-Rangel and Rangel Palacios share the same address in San Juan de Los Morros.
The accused killer crossed the southern border into the US in March and was released from a monitoring program in May due to no known criminal history and regular check-ins. Both men now face capital murder charges for their alleged crimes.
Following Jocelyn Nungaray’s funeral, her family urged the Biden administration to close the borders to prevent further incidents like this one. Christine Nunez, a cousin of Nungaray’s grandmother, expressed her disappointment in the current immigration policies and stressed the importance of evaluating each individual who seeks entry into the United States.
