The two men accused of raping and killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray last month are pointing fingers at each other.
Franklin Peña, 26, and Johan Jose Martínez Rangel, 22, are charged with capital murder in Nungaray’s death. The girl was found in a Houston creek on June 17, as CrimeOnline reported.
A newly released search says that Peña told investigators he and Rangel went to a bar the day before, staying from about 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., according to KPRC. He said they began walking back to their apartment but got lost, ending up the convenience store where they met Nungaray, and Rangel asked for directions.
The three then walked down the street to the area where Nungaray was killed and dumped.
Peña denied touching the girl and described in detail how he said Rangel killed her. After they got back to their apartment, Rangel shaved off his beard, and Peña asked him why. “So that they do not recognize me,” Rangel replied, he said. He also said he believed Rangel had gotten rid of the clothing they were wearing.
The search warrant says that Rangel initially said he had nothing to do with Nungaray’s murder, that Peña was solely responsible. Eventually, however, he said he tied the girl’s legs together and told Peña to throw her in the creek because the water would wash off any DNA.
