A judge in Texas has set a bond of $10 million for an undocumented Venezuelan man accused of killing a 12-year-old Houston girl. The girl's body was found in a creek after she disappeared during a walk to a convenience store.
The accused, Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, is one of two men charged with capital murder in the death of Jocelyn Nungaray. The other suspect is Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22.
Prosecutors revealed that Peña and Martinez-Rangel attempted to flee the Houston area after the killing. Both men are Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States illegally in March.
Immigration authorities confirmed that both suspects are under immigration holds, meaning they will remain in custody even if they could post bond. Martinez-Rangel is scheduled to appear in court to review his bond status on Tuesday.
Nungaray's body was discovered in a shallow creek, and the medical examiner determined she was strangled to death. Prosecutors allege that the suspects lured the victim under a bridge, tied her up, and killed her before disposing of her body in a bayou.
The victim's mother, Alexis Nungaray, described her daughter as quirky and someone who brought laughter to those around her. She expressed deep sorrow over the loss of her daughter's bright future.
Authorities arrested Martinez-Rangel and Peña, who were roommates, after surveillance video showed them with the victim before her death. The suspects did not appear to have any prior connection to the 12-year-old.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg emphasized the severity of the crime during a news conference following Peña's court hearing. Ogg mentioned that the charges the suspects face are not currently eligible for the death penalty but could change based on further evidence.
The victim's grandfather, Kelvin Alvarenga, expressed regret over the tragedy and suggested that a better immigration system could have prevented such incidents. He urged for more thorough investigations into individuals entering the country.
