HOUSTON — Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old Houston girl whose death touched the heart and soul of this city, was laid to rest Thursday following a private funeral.
Dozens of family members and friends gathered at Earthman's Resthaven on the northside to remember Jocelyn and say goodbye. State and local leaders were also there, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Cecilia Abbott, the wife of Gov. Greg Abbott and Mayor John Whitmire.
“We’re sad but we’re outraged and angry that this could happen in our community,” the mayor told the crowd.
Whitmire called Jocelyn a "dynamic young person" who loved her family, including the mother who gave birth to her at 15 and the 5-year-old brother who looked up to her.
A little girl named Gabby spoke about her friend who was funny and had a big heart.
“We got to laugh, play, cry, get on each other’s nerves," Gabby said. "Jocelyn gave me the courage to be myself and speak up for myself and for that, I will always be grateful. I love you, Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn's great-aunt shared favorite memories of the child she adored.
“I’ve been so blessed to have been there when she first came into this world, took her first breath, and I was with her the day before she took her last breath,” Julie Gonzales said through tears.
She said Jocelyn was always a happy baby with bright eyes, a big, beautiful smile and beautiful curly hair. She said as Jocelyn got older she loved to read.
"Anytime we were at Walmart or any store that girl would make a beeline for the books," Gonzales said.
A family friend who spoke said Jocelyn and her mother, Alexis, lived with her for a while and they were like family. She remembered Jocelyn as a "beautiful soul."
"I got to see her roll out of her bedroom on her Hoverboard and run into the wall," she said. "One of my favorite memories is she loved to bake and she'd sit in the kitchen with us and she'd make the biggest messes."
At the end of the service, Dan Patrick and Cecilia Abbott presented Jocelyn's grieving mother with a special proclamation and an American flag.
Jocelyn's body was escorted to her gravesite in a horse-drawn caisson.
Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and Houston businessman Jim McIngvale also attended the funeral. McIngvale paid for the funeral and burial expenses and hosted a separate celebration of life for the public. It's from 3-5 p.m. at Gallery Furniture.
Men charged with capital murder in Jocelyn Nungaray's death
Two men remain jailed on capital murder charges in Jocelyn's death.
Houston police said Franklin Peña, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, met the victim and lured her to the bridge where they tied her up, killed her and dumped her in the creek to "erase DNA evidence."
They were arrested at the apartment they shared, which is near where Jocelyn lived and also where she died.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the two "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 they are being held on immigration detainers at the Harris County Jail.
They are not eligible for the death penalty unless forensic investigators determine that Jocelyn was kidnapped or sexually assaulted.
Patrick said he'll push for a change that would make anyone who kills a child under 15 eligible for the death penalty. Current Texas law includes only children under 10. The Lt. Gov. also said he'll introduce Jocelyn's law to allow Texans to vote to amend the state Constitution to automatically deny bail for all capital murder suspects.