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Jocelyn Nungaray’s GoFundMe exceeds its goal in just a few hours

A GoFundMe campaign raising money for the family of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old Texas girl who was allegedly strangled to death and thrown into a swampy river by two Venezuelan migrants, surpassed its goal in just a few hours over the weekend .

As of Sunday morning, the fundraiser to help the family cover costs related to his death received more than $44,800 in donations, surpassing its original goal of $35,000.

The overwhelming support comes after Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Friday at a public vigil that Houston businessman Jim McIngvale would cover the family’s funeral expenses, KHOU reported.

Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was reportedly found strangled to death and abandoned in a Houston creek last week. Nungaray family

Jocelyn’s murder sparked a national outcry after she was strangled to death and thrown into a bayou after sneaking out of her home on June 16.

Police are also investigating whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.

Former President Donald Trump blamed Jocelyn’s killing on President Biden’s border policies, saying, “These monsters should never have been in our country.”

Other Republicans also criticized the White House for its response to his killing, with some calling the condolence statement “pathetic.”

At Friday’s memorial service, Jocelyn’s mother spoke of how she was deprived of watching her fun-loving daughter grow up.

“She was goofy, had her own personality,” said her mother, Alexis Nungaray. “One of a kind. Avant-garde. I loved it, I loved the animals.

“I couldn’t wait to see how beautiful she was going to look,” her mother added.

This booking photo provided by the Houston Police Department shows Franklin Pena. P.A.
This booking photo provided by the Houston Police Department shows Johan Jose Martinez Rangel. P.A.

Houston police arrested Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, in connection with Jocelyn’s death and both were charged Thursday with capital murder.

Border Patrol sources told the Post that the two men entered the country illegally from Venezuela earlier this year and were released into the United States with ankle monitors.

Pena Ramos, who entered the United States less than a month before Jocelyn’s murder, allegedly turned off her GPS tracker two days after the girl’s murder, according to sources.

Investigators identified the men as suspects from surveillance footage after they were seen following Jocelyn as she entered a local convenience store.

According to the girl’s family, she ran away from home on Sunday evening and was “exploited” by her killers who lured her to her death.

The 12-year-old was remembered at a memorial service Friday. P.A.

Houston authorities are still investigating whether Nungaray’s killers sexually assaulted her.

Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the suspects’ immigration backgrounds.