Former DA Reveals Allegation Against Illegal Alien Charged With Jocelyn Nungaray Murder

Daily Caller Staff | Daily Caller News Foundation | June 03, 2025

Former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed Thursday that one of the men accused of raping and murdering 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray has a previous allegation of sexually assaulting an American woman.

A woman accused Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, one of two Venezuelan nationals charged with Nungaray’s murder, of having assaulted her in Costa Rica, Ogg told Fox 26. Authorities discovered that both men were in the U.S. illegally.

“It happened to an American citizen who came forward with that information after their pictures were shown on national television,” the DA said. “When she reported it to the authorities in Costa Rica, they did nothing. Imagine the frustration of that individual. I don’t want that to be swept under the carpet.”

Ogg told the outlet that woman’s allegation against Pena influenced her decision to pursue the death penalty. “The courage of any crime victim to come forward like that is remarkable to me and that played a major role in determining whether the death penalty is appropriate,” she said.

Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, responded to Ogg’s statements. “To just know that this happened to another woman, it hurts my heart. A piece of me shatters a little bit,” she said. (RELATED: ‘Illegal Men Took That Opportunity’: Family Of 12-Year-Old Brutally Murdered Calls For Tighter Border Security)

Nungaray said she hopes news of this allegation will help and inspire others. “I pray that no other woman has had to look in his eyes while they have their vulnerability taken from them, but if there are any others, I pray that they have the courage and the strength to come forward and help shed light on an open case,” she added.

District Judge Josh Hill strengthened a gag order Monday to bar Ogg from sharing further details about the case with the media, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Harris County District Attorney’s Office General Counsel Josh Reiss accused Ogg of violating professional standards and potentially prejudicing the case with her public statements. He alleged that her behavior “reflect(s) adversely on the legal profession.”

The defendants’ lawyers argued that statements issued to the media could influence potential jurors.