A 12-year-old Texas girl, who was killed by illegal migrants last week, fought back till her last breath, leaving scratch and bite marks on one of the accused, prosecutors said.
The information was shared by prosecutors during a court hearing on Tuesday that was attended by the mother of the girl, according to a report in the New York Post.
The killing of the Texas girl, found last week in a ditch, has reignited a political debate on the migrant issue in an election year in the United States. The incident has been seized on by the Republicans to attack President Joe Biden over his immigration policies.
During the hearing, assistant district attorney Megan Long said Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, one of the accused, still had the bite marks on him when he was arrested.
The other accused, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, said he tried to stop Martinez-Rangel, but he allegedly refused and strangled the girl.
Pena Ramos, while admitting that he kissed the girl, told prosecutors that Martinez-Rangel was even more physically aggressive, Fox News reported.
Martinez-Rangel allegedly told his aide that he had to “finish what he started” as he covered the young girl’s mouth during the attack, the lead prosecutor said.
‘GIRL’S FEET TIED, BACK COVERED IN CUTS’
Prosecutors said the accused, who were drunk, lured the girl under the bridge on June 17 and over the course of two hours “took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her”, The New York Times reported. The girl’s feet were tied, and her back was covered in cuts.
The incident happened as the girl sneaked out of her home to call her boyfriend. Both the accused have been charged with capital murder.
The Harris County District Court judge set a $10 million bail condition for Martinez-Rangel and labelled him a flight risk.
The judge said he kept such a high bail amount as he didn’t want the accused to get deported and escape justice in the US.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said there was clear evidence of sexual assault. “We are waiting on lab tests now to see if the capital murder charge can be upgraded to one where they are death penalty eligible,” Ogg said.
If sexual assault is confirmed by the forensics department, prosecutors could seek the death penalty. The death penalty can be sought under Texas law if the girl was killed in the course of another felony.
During the court hearing, one of the girl’s family members shouted “murderer” as Martinez-Rangel was brought before the judge. “I hope they kill your children,” she was heard saying.
On the other hand, the mother of the girl, who called the accused “monsters”, gave a death stare at Martinez-Rangel as he left the courtroom.
