Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

Alexis Nungaray demands justice after her daughter's murder, calling out for her memory to continue inspiring change for children's safety.

In the wake of the tragic murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, her heartbroken mother, Alexis Nungaray, has spoken out, both in court and in media interviews, expressing her anguish and determination to seek justice for her beloved daughter.

Alexis, who was a teen mom when she had Jocelyn, shared her memories of her firstborn child, describing her as a special little girl with a bright future ahead of her. "She had such a bright future ahead of her, and I knew she was going to go very far," Alexis said. "And these monsters took that opportunity from her, from our family of watching her."

Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

During a court appearance on Monday, Alexis witnessed the setting of bail for one of the two illegal immigrant suspects, 26-year-old Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, who was charged with capital murder. Judge Josh Hill determined Pena Ramos to be a flight risk and ordered him to wear a GPS monitor and remain under house arrest if he posts bail.

Alexis's powerful words echoed through the courtroom as she expressed her pain and determination. "I just want people to remember, I know this is a very high-profile case, but she was still my firstborn. I was a teen mom; I fought for her at 15. I'm 27 now, I'm still fighting for her."

Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

She continued, "Just remember that she was a very special little girl that deserves her justice, and I know she is going to make a difference in this world for all children, and now it's my job to make sure it continues to happen."

Prosecutors had previously requested bail to be set at $1 million for each suspect, and a medical examiner has listed the cause of death as strangulation. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced that prosecutors would request the same bond for the second suspect, 21-year-old Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, at a hearing on Tuesday and would seek no bond if the lab results support a death penalty-eligible type of capital murder.

Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote that the defendants "lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over two hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou."

Alexis shared her anguish at the gruesome details of her daughter's death. "I still see her face in the back of my head every day, all day," she said. "I keep getting little signs about her throughout the days. It's been a very, very hard time for me and my family, but the amount of support I've been getting from everybody, it's from the bottom of my heart so appreciated."

Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

Investigators utilized surveillance video to track the movements of Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos before and after the murder, ultimately leading to their arrest. Police believe the suspects lived in the same apartment complex as Jocelyn.

Fox News has reported that both suspects are from Venezuela and entered the U.S. illegally before being released from custody. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson confirmed that neither suspect had legal status on an unknown date and at an unknown location.

Mother of Slain 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray: 'She Had Such a Bright Future'

Alexis's unwavering determination to seek justice for Jocelyn is a testament to the resilience and strength of a mother who has lost her precious child in a senseless act of violence. Her unwavering belief in her daughter's legacy and her commitment to ensuring that no other child has to endure such a tragedy are a source of inspiration and a call to action for us all.