The 12-year-old Houston girl whose brutal murder shocked the nation and reopened the debate over the border crisis was laid to rest in Houston today, surrounded by hundreds of Texans who wanted to pay their respects.
The death of Jocelyn Nungaryay, who was strangled, tied up and whose body was dumped in a swamp, has garnered national attention as the two men charged in her death entered the United States illegally in El Paso, Texas.
Venezuelans Johan José Rangel Martínez, 21, and Franklin José Peña Ramos, 26, face capital murder charges for her killing.
“We will rescue them and they will get what they deserve,” Julie, the girl’s great-aunt, said through tears at her funeral Thursday.
Investigators believe the men sexually assaulted Nungaray before killing her on June 16, as she was found naked from the waist down when her body was recovered.
Investigators say two Venezuelan men lured Jocelyn from a 7-11 under a bridge, where they strangled and likely raped her on June 16.
The Texas girl whose death sparked a national debate over open borders was laid to rest in Houston on Thursday.
However, the men have not yet been charged with rape as local prosecutors say they are waiting for forensic evidence to arrive from the lab, a process that could take some time.
“Today is the last day I will be able to physically see you and touch you again,” Julie said, holding back tears.
-We’ll see each other again, I promise.
The young woman was remembered by her nickname, ‘Jocey-‘ who loved to read fantasy books, especially Harry Potter.
His hour-long funeral was open to the public and featured first lady Cecilia Abbott of Texas and the state’s lieutenant governor.
They sat up front and knelt next to the girl’s mother during the end of the service, offering her comfort.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went so far as to cover his mouth while speaking to the girl’s mother so no one could see what he was saying.
Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott (center) stands with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as they address Jocelyn Nungaryay at her funeral in Houston on Thursday.
Nungaryay’s great-aunt Julie looks at the little girl’s coffin and says, “We will catch them and they will get what they deserve” from her loved one’s killers.
Crowds of well-wishers, some of whom drove hours to attend the funeral and could not fit into the Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home, listened to the service from the parking lot.
They heard the songs Coney Island Babya 1962 tune by The Excellents, and Young and handsome Lana Del Rey is playing.
While no one mentioned how Nungaryay was killed at the service, the Democratic mayor of Houston did speak about the difficult conversations that still needed to be had.
“We’re going to talk to our leaders about immigration,” Mayor John Whitmire said.
“We will hold accountable those who do not listen to us. We do not want this to happen again.”
The body of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in Houston, Texas, by two migrants from Venezuela, is carried to her final resting place on the day of her funeral.
His funeral costs were paid by a local businessman, after the family expressed that they could not cover the costs themselves.
Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother, pictured center wearing sunglasses looking down next to a toddler, did not speak at her daughter’s service.
Following the service, Jocelyn’s casket was transported from the funeral home to the burial site in a white horse-drawn carriage.
The funeral costs were covered by local celebrity and businessman ‘Mattress Mack’, whose real name is Jim McIngvale.
When the tragedy first occurred, local officials called for support as the girl’s family could not afford the costs.
The burial was kept private, with only family, however, the rest of the mourners were invited to one of Mattress Mack’s stores afterwards.
‘We’re not going to leave; “We are going to monitor this case,” Whitmire assured the Nungaray family.
‘You call us when you need us. Houston is your family permanently.