Illegal immigrant suspect in Jocelyn Nungaray's murder now accused of prior sexual assault in Costa Rica
Details emerge about Franklin Pena Ramos’ past alleged crime against an American woman amid Jocelyn Nungaray's murder case in Texas
Audrey Conklin By Audrey Conklin Fox News
Published June 3, 2025 12:42pm EDT
Democratic DA seeks death penalty for illegal migrants in Jocelyn Nungaray murder case
One of two suspects charged in Jocelyn Nungaray's murder is now accused of raping an American woman in Costa Rica, according to former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Two Venezuelan illegal immigrants who may have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang — Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21 — are charged in the 12-year-old's June 2024 murder. They allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled the pre-teen to death, leaving her body tied up in a bayou in Houston.
Ogg told FOX 26 Houston last week that she learned over the course of her investigation as DA, before her successor Sean Teare took office last year, that Pena Ramos had been involved in a prior sexual assault in Costa Rica involving an American woman who was apparently on vacation at the time.
"It happened in Costa Rica. It happened to an American citizen who came forward with that information after their pictures were shown on national television," Ogg told the outlet. "When she reported it to the authorities in Costa Rica, they did nothing. Imagine the frustration of that individual. I don't want that to be swept under the carpet."
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illegal-immigrant-suspect-jocelyn-nungaray-case-accused-raping-american-woman-costa-rica
