In a shocking turn of events, it has been revealed that the two men accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray were reportedly seeking money to escape Houston after committing the heinous crime. The details emerged during the first court hearing for Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, where prosecutors presented compelling evidence against him and his alleged accomplice, Franklin Peña.

Initially, Martinez-Rangel denied any involvement in the case. However, prosecutors revealed that Peña, who appeared in court on Monday, claimed he had only kissed Jocelyn. But on Tuesday, Martinez-Rangel admitted to restraining the young girl's legs and displayed bite marks and scratches on his arm. He also allegedly instructed Peña to dispose of Jocelyn's body in a creek to eliminate any DNA evidence. Additionally, Martinez-Rangel shaved his facial hair after the murder in an attempt to avoid detection.

Lead prosecutor Megan Long disclosed that investigators were able to access Martinez-Rangel's phone, which revealed his online searches for ways to leave the country. While his defense attorneys highlighted his lack of a criminal history and his two young children, aged 5 and 2, residing in an unknown location, it remains unclear whether they live in Houston or their home country of Venezuela.

During the court proceedings, Martinez-Rangel requested a lowered bond and emphasized his ties to family members in the area. The judge, however, set his bond at a staggering $10 million, identical to Peña's bond, and upheld the same conditions for both defendants.

As Martinez-Rangel was escorted out of the courtroom, a family member of Jocelyn's shouted in Spanish, labeling him a "murderer" and expressing a desire for harm to come to his own children.

Currently, both Martinez-Rangel and Peña are facing charges of capital murder. According to court documents, the suspects spent hours at a local bar before encountering Jocelyn at a 7/11, where they asked her for directions. Prosecutors also alleged that they lured the young girl to a bridge, where her body was ultimately discovered unclothed with cuts on her body and backside.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg explained during a press conference that the charges filed against the accused do not make them eligible for the death penalty due to changes in legislation regarding the age of victims. Previously, the death penalty could be sought if the victim was under six years old, but that threshold has since been expanded to 10 years old and then further to 15-year-olds. However, if lab results confirm sexual assault, both defendants could potentially become eligible for the death penalty.

Efforts are underway to expedite the testing of DNA evidence collected from the defendants as well as from the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) examination. The results could potentially provide critical answers in the ongoing investigation, but the exact timeline for their availability remains uncertain.

The victim's family expressed their contentment with the high bond set for both suspects, praising the judge for the decision. They credited the media and public attention for making this a high-profile case and expressed hope for justice to prevail.