Jocelyn Nungaray Murder Suspect Faces New Rape Accusation in Costa Rica

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, one of two Venezuelan migrants charged with the rape and murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas, has also been linked to the rape of an American woman while she was on vacation in Costa Rica. The alleged assault occurred before Nungaray’s murder, likely during Pena Ramos's travel from South America to the U.S. The woman reported the attack to Costa Rican authorities, but no action was taken, according to former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Ogg revealed this information publicly due to concerns about the new district attorney potentially dismissing charges in the case. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence confirmed Nungaray was sexually assaulted and strangled after being lured by Pena Ramos and his accomplice, Johan Jose Martinez Rangel. The suspects' illegal entry into the U.S. and possible gang ties have sparked immigration debates and intensified scrutiny of the investigation.