A Houston judge set a $10 million bond for Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, who was charged with capital murder in the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Nungaray’s cause of death was strangulation. Her body was found in a creek by a bystander on Monday morning.
Ramos’ roommate, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, was arrested along with him at a Houston apartment complex on Thursday. Ramos appeared in court on Monday, while Martinez is scheduled to have a hearing on Tuesday. Authorities stated that the two men met Nungaray at a convenience store after dining at a restaurant together.
Both men, originally from Venezuela, are being held under an immigration detention order. An ICE spokesperson revealed that the exact date and location of their entry into the country is unknown. Martinez was previously apprehended by Border Patrol on March 14 near El Paso, Texas, and released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear in court. Ramos was also apprehended by Border Patrol on May 28, near El Paso, and released on the same order. However, sources close to the investigation claim that Ramos removed his ankle monitor, which was given to him after crossing the border.
