President Donald Trump on Tuesday during his congressional address announced that a wildlife sanctuary would be renamed in memory of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in Texas last year.
The tribute came as Trump introduced Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, at the joint session of Congress. “Across Galveston Bay, from where Jocelyn lived in Houston, you will find a magnificent National Wildlife Refuge, a pristine, peaceful, 34,000-acre sanctuary for all of God’s creatures on the edge of the Gulf of America. Alexis, moments ago, I formally renamed that refuge in loving memory of your beautiful daughter, Jocelyn,” Trump said.
Jocelyn was killed on June 17, 2023, after reportedly meeting two men—Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Peña, 26—who have since been charged with her murder. According to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, she was strangled to death, and her body was discovered by a local resident.
Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope stated that Jocelyn met the two men after sneaking out of her family’s apartment that night. The suspects allegedly approached her asking for directions before leading her to a 7-Eleven convenience store and then to the bridge where she was murdered.
Also read: Donald Trump honors Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray at Joint Congress address, calls for mass deportation funding
Authorities arrested Martinez-Rangel and Peña at their apartment on June 20. They remain in custody, each held on a $10 million bond, according to court records.
In December, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg confirmed that prosecutors would seek the death penalty for both suspects. “Jocelyn’s murder was as vile, brutal and senseless as any case in my tenure as district attorney,” Ogg stated. “And it was made worse by knowing that these two men were here illegally and, had they been held after being captured at the border, they would never have had the opportunity to murder Jocelyn and destroy her family’s future.”