Illegal Venezuelan migrant accused in Jocelyn Nungaray’s killing is son of Maduro-supporting ex-pol: report
One of the illegal migrants accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray is believed to be the son of a former Venezuelan official who is an avid backer of the country’s socialist president, according to a report.
Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, along with accomplice Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, allegedly strangled the preteen in Houston last month, authorities said. She had been sexually assaulted before her gruesome death, the city’s Forensic Science Center confirmed.
Martinez-Rangel, who was arrested last month, is reportedly the son of Nazareth Rangel Palacios, an ex-councilwoman who is part of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, according to the Daily Mail.
Palacios is also a supporter of President Nicolas Maduro, the outlet reported.
The South American country’s electoral registry shows Martinez-Rangel and Rangel Palacios share the same address in San Juan de Los Morros, according to the Daily Mail. A childhood friend also reportedly confirmed his identity when contacted by the outlet.
“He was my friend when we were kids, and it’s very sad that he did what he did,” Lias Brandont told the publication.
The Post has not been able to independently verify the accused killer’s reported family connection.
An email and call to a court-appointed attorney who represented Martinez-Rangel during his bond hearing was not returned Tuesday evening.
Martinez-Rangel crossed the southern border into the US in March and was released from a monitoring program in May because he had no known criminal history and attended check-ins, sources previously told The Post.
He and Pena Ramos allegedly lured Nungaray under a bridge where the pair viciously assaulted and killed her, according to court docs. Her body was found June 17.
Nungaray had also been sexually assaulted before she was killed, the Houston Forensic Science Center confirmed, KTRK reported.
Both men are facing capital murder charges and are behind bars.
Following the youngster’s funeral on Thursday, her family urged the Biden administration to close the border.
“I used to feel bad for the immigrants, but ever since this happened it’s made me change my mind about who to let in and who not to let in,” Christine Nunez, a cousin of Nungaray’s grandmother, told The Post at the service.
“I can’t say all of them are bad — there’s good people, but they need to close the borders and not let everybody in, and look at each individual.”
