Recent search warrants have shed light on the potential gang affiliation of the individuals accused of the tragic killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. Franklin Pena, 26, and Johan Martinez-Rangel, 22, were indicted last month on capital murder charges in connection with Nungaray's death.
The documents indicate that Pena and Rangel allegedly kidnapped the young girl, leading to her death by applying pressure to her neck. Additionally, they are accused of sexually assaulting her before abandoning her body under a bridge.
The new search warrants, filed in the District Court of Harris County, suggest that the two suspects may be associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, also known as TdA. This alleged connection was uncovered through an examination of their social media accounts.
Investigators found emojis and symbols linked to the gang on Rangel's TikTok account, including ninja, crossed swords, and classical building emojis. Furthermore, a video showed Rangel wearing attire from brands associated with the gang, such as Jordans and Gucci.
Pena's social media presence also raised suspicions, with tattoos resembling those commonly seen among TdA members. His videos featured him wearing clothing from Air Jordan and Chicago Bulls, brands known to have ties to the gang.
One investigator noted in a search warrant that they believed Pena and Rangel used various social media platforms to communicate with gang members about criminal activities.
The search warrants have requested additional data from the suspects' phones and social media accounts to gather more evidence linking them to the capital murder charges they face. Rangel is scheduled to appear in court on November 11 for further proceedings.
