Jocelyn Nungaray will be buried Thursday in north Houston, the public is invited to attend the service

HOUSTON – It’s been an exhausting week for Jocelyn Nungaray’s family after the 12-year-old was found dead in a creek north of Houston last Monday.

However, thanks to an outpouring of support, Jocelyn’s killers, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, were put behind bars and each charged with capital murder.

Jocelyn’s family has announced funeral services for her on Thursday, June 27 from 1-3 p.m. at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery on North Fwy. Following the service, a celebration of life will be held at Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s Furniture Gallery, also located on North Fwy.

The public is invited to attend both events.

Investigators believe they asked Jocelyn for directions and lured her to a nearby bridge, where they tied her up, took off her pants and strangled her. They then dumped his body in the bayou under the bridge in an attempt to suppress DNA evidence.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire and HPD Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite were present at a vigil last Friday.

Earlier today, US border officials revealed that Jocelyn’s killers were from Venezuela and were undocumented while residing in the United States. In fact, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a statement saying the two men had been arrested and released by the U.S. Border Patrol a month before the murder.

“Martinez and Pena both entered the United States illegally without inspection, parole, or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and in an unknown location. On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. The same day, he was released on bail with a summons to appear in court. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on bond with a summons to appear in court the same day of his arrest,” the ICE statement read in part.

As a result, Houston Mayor John Whitmire called on Congress and the Biden administration to implement a foolproof immigration system. Mattress Mack also appeared at the vigil to show his support and announced that he would cover Jocelyn’s funeral expenses.

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