In a case that has horrified the community, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, a suspect in the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, appeared in Harris County Criminal Court on Monday.
An atrocious detail has been learned that is going to have the Biden Admin scrambling.
Ramos, 26, was found to be wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ankle bracelet at the time of the crime. This revelation has sparked outrage and concern over how such a tragedy could occur despite the suspect being under federal supervision.
Ramos was initially apprehended by Border Patrol agents after illegally entering the United States. Following his arrest, he was released from custody but required to wear an ankle monitor. ICE stated that Ramos “illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole, or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.”
Alongside Ramos, 21-year-old Johan Jose Rangel Martinez was also named as a suspect. Both men are accused of attempting to gather funds to flee the town, a clear indication of their intent to evade justice. This prompted the judge to set Ramos’ bail at an astonishing $10 million, far surpassing the $5 million initially requested by prosecutors.
Pena’s defense argued for a more modest bail of $1 million, but Judge Hill deemed Ramos an “astronomical” flight risk, suggesting that his chances of returning to court voluntarily were “near zero.” Should Ramos make bail, he will be forced to wear a GPS monitor, be on house arrest around the clock, remain within Harris County, and have no contact with Martinez or the victim’s family. Additionally, Ramos is barred from interacting with anyone under the age of 18 and from possessing firearms, drugs, or alcohol, and he must surrender his passport.
The details of the crime itself are chilling. Ramos and Martinez allegedly lured Jocelyn Nungaray under a bridge, where they kept her for over two hours tying her up, sexually assaulting her, and then took her life. They then disposed of her body in the bayou. Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner described the gruesome sequence of events, underscoring the brutal nature of the crime.
Both suspects now face charges of capital murder. Martinez is set to make his first court appearance on Tuesday, adding another layer of complexity and anticipation to this harrowing case. The community remains in shock as they await justice for Jocelyn, hoping that the legal system will hold those responsible accountable for their actions.