Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl murdered in Texas, was sexually assaulted before being strangled, according to recent forensic evidence.
The girl's family also confirmed to Fox 26 that she was sexually assaulted.
Two Venezuelan nationals — Johan José Martínez-Rangel, 21, and Franklin José Peña Ramos, 26 — are charged with capital murder in Jocelyn’s death. The two men illegally crossed the border into the United States earlier this year.
Both suspects are accused of luring Jocelyn under a bridge and sexually assaulting her before strangling her to death and abandoning her in a creek.
JOCELYN NUNGARAY MURDER: TEXAS COUNTY KNOWN AS 'SANTUARY FOR CRIMINALS' AS DEMOCRAT TRIES TO SHIFT BLAME
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)
The Harris County District Attorney's Office has received laboratory results in connection with the investigation into Jocelyn's death.
While test results show she appeared to have been sexually assaulted, as semen was found on her, a DNA match has not yet come in, a source close to the investigation told Fox News.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office said in a statement to Fox News that it “will not comment on the evidence in this case until the appropriate time comes.” The Houston Forensic Science Center declined to provide details.
The family now hopes the court will acknowledge the new evidence and is seeking to have bail revoked as they seek justice for Jocelyn's death.
Jocelyn's grandfather, Kelvin Alvarenga, told Fox 26 it will be nearly impossible for the family to “shake off this feeling of loss.”
If the suspects are found guilty of sexually assaulting Jocelyn, they could be sentenced to death, but Jocelyn's family opposes the death penalty and would prefer that the suspects endure what they did for the rest of their lives.
“I want them to remember Jocy for the rest of their lives,” Melfri Vargas, Alvarenga's wife, told Fox 26. “I want them to remember what they did every time they go to sleep and show others that they don't mess with our daughter, they don't mess with America, they don't mess with Texas.”
Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel have been charged with the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas. (Harris County Jail)
Since the suspects in this case are two illegal immigrants, Jocelyn's death has sparked a political debate about US immigration policy.
“I don't want my granddaughter to be used as a political base, but to know that her name is Jocelyn Nungaray,” Alvarenga told Fox 26. “We just want to make a difference for Jocy. We don't want Jocy's memory or name to be easily forgotten.”
Alvarenga would like to see the individuals responsible for Jocelyn's death face life in prison without parole, and stressed the importance of reminding them every day of what they did to the girl.
“I'd rather the general population remember this,” he said. “Life without parole, that way they can remember every night when they go to sleep the horrendous treatment that was done to our family.”
With Jocelyn's death making national headlines, her family says they are grateful for the support they have received from city and state leaders, and former President Trump.
SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF MURDERING JOCELYN NUNGARAY WAS WEARING AN ICE ANKLE MONITOR
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was sexually assaulted before being strangled, according to recent forensic evidence. (Fake Images)
“May God bless him, because when it comes time to count the day, I would not want my daughter's accident to become another statistic for the city of Houston or the state of Texas. With the support of former President Trump, my blessings to him and may God bless him,” said Alvarenga.
Jocelyn's mother, Alexis Nungaray, has been struggling with the aftermath of her daughter's death, Alexis' father told Fox 26. Jocelyn's five-year-old brother also asks about his sister every day and wishes he could be with her.
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“She's a single mother and one of the hardest things for her and for us is explaining to a five-year-old that Cici won't be home anymore,” Vargas said. “He asks when he's going to see Cici. We try to explain it to a little boy as best we can. It's not an easy thing to do. He's always asking about her, he wants to go see her.”
The two suspects are due to appear in court again in September.
Fox News' Nate Foy contributed to this report.
