The GoFundMe page for Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old Texas girl who was murdered by two illegal Venezuelans, surpassed its goal just hours after it was created.
The page, which originally set a goal of $35,000, raised more than $53,000 over the weekend.
“She was goofy, had her own personality,” Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray said at a vigil in honor of her daughter. “One of a kind. Trendsetter. Loved, loved animals.”
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, were each charged with capital murder in the murder.
Investigators said that Nungaray was killed by strangulation and police were able to trace the movements of the suspects by using surveillance videos.
Prosecutors stated that the pair “lured” Nungaray “under a bridge” where they “remained with her for over two hours, took her pants off, tied her up and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that both men recently enter the United States illegally.
“Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location,” ICE said.
“On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended.”
