Jocelyn Nungaray's Pants Were Removed Before She Was Dumped in Creek After 'Horrific Crime,' Says D.A.

The two suspects accused of killing a 12-year-old Texas girl whose body was found on June 17 in a shallow creek allegedly removed her pants before killing her near a bridge, according to court documents obtained by multiple news outlets.

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 22, are being held in Harris County Jail on charges of capital murder in connection with the death of Jocelyn Nungaray, PEOPLE previously reported.

Ramos’ bond was set at $10 million during a court appearance on June 24 while Martinez is scheduled to appear in court later this week, according to KHOU. It’s unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope previously claimed the suspects were seen on surveillance video talking to Jocelyn on June 16 and visiting a convenience store, before all three walked to a bridge. Hope said Jocelyn had sneaked out of her family home that night around 10 p.m. and was found dead early the next morning. 

Authorities allege in court documents obtained by KHOU, ABC News and KPRC 2 that the suspects asked Jocelyn for directions at the convenience store and lured her to the bridge, where they remained for more than two hours.

The men allegedly removed Jocelyn’s pants and tied her up before killing her and dumping her body into the bayou, the documents state, per KPRC 2. Authorities believe the suspects, who reportedly did not know Jocelyn prior to that night, then walked back to their apartment, per the documents.

The men were arrested on Thursday, June 20, after investigators searched their home and allegedly found evidence related to Jocelyn’s death, Hope previously said.

Jocelyn died from strangulation and -

Popeyes Has Free Boneless Wings for 2 We,...

her manner of death was ruled a homicide, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences previously confirmed to PEOPLE.

While the suspects have not been charged with any additional offenses, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at a press conference on June 24 that they could face the death penalty if evidence leads investigators to believe they sexually assaulted or kidnapped Jocelyn, per Fox 26 Houston.

“Make no mistake, this is a horrific crime,” Ogg said, per ABC News.

The suspects are also Venezuelan nationals who were previously detained — and released — by U.S. border patrol agents after illegally entering the country “on an unknown date and at an unknown location,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement previously said in a statement to PEOPLE.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE'sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Ramos had been detained by border patrol agents near El Paso on May 28 and Martinez had been detained near the same city on March 14, the spokesperson said. The men were then released on orders of recognizance with notices to appear in court at a later date.

It remains unclear how the men ended up in Houston.

In the wake of Jocelyn’s death, her loved ones created a GoFundMe campaign to help offset funeral expenses.

“She had such a bright future ahead of her and I knew she was going to go very far,” Jocelyn's mother, Alexis Nungaray, previously told KHOU. “And, you know, these, these monsters took that opportunity from her, from our family."

Related Articles

Follow Us

What the Pentagon Has Learned? Are UFOs ,...