The tragic death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, a Houston girl who was allegedly killed by Venezuelan illegal immigrants in June 2024, has drawn a powerful response from her mother, Alexis Nungaray. In a recent interview, Alexis Nungaray voiced her support for U.S. military action against the Tren de Aragua (TdA) narco-terrorist group, believed to be connected to her daughter’s alleged killers.
The family’s story gained national attention after President Donald Trump announced a U.S. military strike that killed 11 alleged TdA narco-terrorists on a drug boat in the southern Caribbean. Alexis Nungaray praised the action, stating, “Taking down their drug boat [Tuesday] shows real strength, and I pray they keep going until every last one of these monsters is off our streets and out of our hemisphere.” Her words underscore a deep-seated desire for justice and an end to the violence that claimed her daughter’s life.
In a heartbreaking video produced by The American Border Story, Alexis Nungaray recounted the devastating night she tracked her daughter’s phone to a skate park just two minutes from their home. Upon arrival, she was met with a scene of crime tape and officers. “There’s already an officer walking in my direction before I even put my car in park,” Nungaray recalled. “I run out, and I’m like, ‘I’m looking for my daughter. [I] don’t know where she is. … I’ve checked everywhere. Her phone shows it’s here.’ He kind of walked me away from the direction of where the tape was, and he was like, ‘Oh, this is something else. … But just keep your phone on you nearby.’”
Homicide detectives later delivered the crushing news that they had found Jocelyn’s body. The young girl had been sexually assaulted before her death. In a testament to her courage, Alexis Nungaray shared how her daughter fought for her life and, in doing so, left crucial evidence for investigators. “She left marks on them. She bit them. She left scratches,” Nungaray said. “She had broken nails. She had their DNA under her nails. I think when she knew she wasn’t going to make it out, she knew a way to help find them. It’s sad that she had to do that, but it’s a very courageous thing that she was able to do that at such a young age.” Jocelyn’s brave actions, even in her final moments, were instrumental in helping law enforcement identify and track down her alleged attackers.
The Unthinkable Search: A Mother’s Heartbreak in Houston
The silence of a summer night in Houston was shattered for Alexis Nungaray, a mother who, in a desperate race against time, found herself tracking her 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, via her phone. What began as a routine check-in spiraled into a mother’s worst nightmare. Alexis followed the digital breadcrumbs to a skate park, a place of youthful joy now eerily illuminated by the flashing lights of police cruisers and the stark white of crime scene tape. Her heart pounding, she ran toward the scene, only to be gently intercepted by an officer. His words, “Oh, this is something else. … But just keep your phone on you nearby,” were meant to reassure, but they only served to deepen her dread. In that moment, the terrifying realization began to dawn: the “something else” was a reality she could never have prepared for.
A Cry for Justice: From a Mother’s Grief to a Nation’s Action
Jocelyn’s life was tragically cut short, allegedly at the hands of individuals connected to the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) narco-terrorist group. Her death has become a flashpoint in the national conversation about border security and the human cost of illegal immigration. Alexis Nungaray has transformed her profound grief into a powerful voice for justice, publicly supporting U.S. military strikes against the very organization she believes is responsible for her daughter’s murder. “Taking down their drug boat… shows real strength, and I pray they keep going until every last one of these monsters is off our streets and out of our hemisphere,” she declared. Her statement is a testament to the raw, visceral pain of a mother seeking retribution and closure, not just for her own loss but for the safety of other families.
Jocelyn’s Courage: A Final, Heroic Stand
In the face of her attackers, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray did not surrender without a fight. Her mother revealed the heartbreaking details of her daughter’s final, courageous moments. Jocelyn, even in her last struggle, left a trail of evidence: bite marks, scratches, and, most crucially, DNA under her broken nails. “I think when she knew she wasn’t going to make it out, she knew a way to help find them,” Alexis said, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and pride. This young girl, in her darkest hour, became an unwitting hero, her final actions providing law enforcement with the critical clues needed to bring her alleged killers to justice. Jocelyn’s bravery, a beacon of light in an unimaginable tragedy, ensures that her story is not just one of loss, but one of remarkable resilience and strength. Her legacy will forever be tied to her final, courageous act.