One of the Venezuelan migrants accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl is the son of a former government official in the socialist nation, DailyMail.com has learned.
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, is one of two men who could face the death penalty for the capital murder of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was found strangled in a creek earlier this month in Houston, Texas.
Following Martínez Rangel’s arrest, Venezuelans in her home state of Guárico began pointing out on social media that her mother, Nazaret Rangel Palacios, is a staunch supporter of Nicolás Maduro and served as a councilor for his party.
Venezuela’s electoral register shows that Martínez Rangel and Rangel Palacios share the same address in San Juan de Los Morros.
Rangel Palacios was an active member of the ruling PSUV party and was photographed with her son at pro-government events until she left the country around 2018.
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, is one of two men who could face the death penalty for the capital murder of Jocelyn Nungaray earlier this month in Houston, Texas. His mother is a former councilwoman for the ruling Socialist Party. They are seen together in 2017.
Following Martínez Rangel’s arrest, Venezuelans in his home state of Guárico began to point out that his mother, Nazaret Rangel Palacios, is a staunch supporter of Nicolás Maduro and served as a councilor for his party.
The suspect is believed to have first traveled to a third country before illegally entering the United States in March.
DailyMail.com also confirmed his identity by speaking to one of his childhood friends, who said he did not want to talk about Martinez Rangel’s alleged crimes.
“He was my friend when we were kids and it’s very sad that he did what he did,” Lias Brandont told DailyMail.com.
The suspected killer reportedly emigrated to Colombia before heading to the US-Mexico border.
Martinez Rangel’s family connections emerged when Univision aired a video they say shows the murder suspect snorting a substance that appears to be cocaine on the day of Nungaray’s murder.
The images appear to show the suspect wearing the same hat and accessories he had on when he was photographed alongside Nungaray before his murder.
A source shared with Univision a voice note that Martínez Rangel allegedly sent them, bragging about being very drunk.
Rangel Martinez and Franklin Pena, 26, are accused of luring Nungaray under a bridge before sexually assaulting and killing her.
Former PSUV councilwoman Nazareth Rangel appears with her son Johan. She is wearing a T-shirt that shows the eyes of the late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez.
Rangel Martinez and Franklin Pena, 26, are accused of luring Nungaray under a bridge before sexually assaulting and killing her.
Her body was found the next morning, after she had been strangled, tied up and dumped in a swamp. She was naked from the waist down.
The men allegedly encountered Nungaray, who had run away from home, as he walked to a 7-11 around 10 a.m. on June 16.
The men walked her to the store and then under the bridge. Investigators have not yet said which of the men they believe raped Nungaray before her death.
Both men are currently being held in jail on bail of $10 million each.
A third man who briefly lived with the two suspects was the one who reported them to police.
Martinez Rangel’s family connections have emerged after Univision aired a video it said showed the suspect snorting a substance that appears to be cocaine on the day of Nungaray’s murder.
The images appear to show the suspect wearing the same hat and accessories he had on when he was photographed alongside Nungaray before his murder (above).
The suspects appear on surveillance video the night of Nungaray’s murder.
The unnamed roommate claims he had only lived with the two men for a few days when he dined with the accused killers on June 16 at a restaurant called Crazy Eyes, according to Fox 26.
Two days after the murder, as Houston police conducted an extensive search for Nungaray’s killers, the informant was watching television with Martinez and Pena when their photos appeared on the screen.
The roommate “tried not to react” as he wasn’t even sure it was them.
Through a relative, the roommate contacted investigators who were able to arrest them.
State District Judge Josh Hill set the bond during a court hearing in which prosecutors said authorities found evidence on Martinez-Rangel’s cellphone that they said showed he was trying to leave the country after police searched for him following Jocelyn’s death.
