HOUSTON — According to recently released court documents, a crucial tip led to the arrest of two men accused of the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. A man who shared an apartment with the suspects, only recognizing them as "Gordo" and "Gordo's cousin," saw the suspects' images on the news in connection with the crime and managed to stealthily alert the authorities. This tipster, whose identity has been kept confidential, played a pivotal role in the tracking down of suspects Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Peña, charged with capital murder in the young girl's death.
The development of the case unfolded rapidly after the tipster, who had just been evicted and moved in with the accused on June 17, witnessed the newscast featuring surveillance photos of the suspects while in their company. "He tried not to react," to the footage because he didn't want them to know he recognized him, he explained in an affidavit obtained by FOX 26. The man took a photograph with Martinez-Rangel and Peña at Ojos Locos, the place where they all were on the night of the murder. He later deleted the image from his phone but not before sending it to a concerned family member in Laredo. This family member subsequently reached out to the Houston Police Department (HPD).
The tipster's own safety became a concern as the suspects remained unaware of his discovery. In an effort to escape the precarious situation, the tipster fabricated a reason to leave the apartment and was met outside a food store by an HPD officer, according to information obtained by KPRC 2. The suspects' boss, who lived in another room in the same apartment, also became involved when Peña, while being driven home, mentioned they had "made a mistake after partying" and "hurt someone" who had died. His boss later connected Peña's comments with the surveillance images shown by his girlfriend and notified the police.
At the time of their arrest, HPD did not know the full identities of Martinez-Rangel and Peña, relying on the photo from Ojos Locos as an identifier. The search warrant return lists various items seized from the suspects' apartment, including suspected blood evidence. Martinez-Rangel and Peña are each being held on bonds of $10 million. The case recently gained further notoriety when former President Donald Trump referenced the murder during the U.S. Presidential Debate on Thursday night, criticizing current immigration policies in light of the tragic event.
