AP
A GoFundMe campaign raising money for the family of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old Texas girl allegedly strangled to death and dumped in a swampy creek by two Venezuelan migrants, surpassed its goal in a matter of hours over the weekend.
As of Sunday morning, the fundraiser to help the family cover costs related to her death received over $44,800 in donations, surpassing its original goal of $35,000.
The overwhelming support comes after Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced during a public vigil on Friday that Houston businessman Jim McIngvale would cover the funeral expenses for the family, KHOU reported.
Jocelyn’s murder has sparked a national outcry after she was strangled to death and dumped in a bayou after sneaking out of her house on June 16.
Police are also investigating whether she was sexually assaulted before she was killed.
Former President Donald Trump blamed President Biden’s border policy for Jocelyn’s murder, saying, “These monsters should never have been in our country.”
Other Republicans have also slammed the White House for its response to her murder, with some calling the statement of condolences “pathetic.”
During the memorial on Friday, Jocelyn’s mother spoke about how she was robbed of watching her fun-loving daughter grow up.
“She was goofy, had her own personality,” her mother, Alexis Nungaray said. “One of a kind. Trendsetter. Loved, loved animals.”
“I was looking forward to seeing how beautiful she was going to be,” her mother added.
Houston police arrested Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, in connection to Jocelyn’s death and both were charged Thursday with capital murder.
Border Patrol sources told The Post that both men entered the country illegally from Venezuela early this year and were released into the US with ankle monitors.
Pena Ramos, who entered the US less than a month before Jocelyn’s murder, allegedly cut off his GPS tracker two days after the girl’s killing, according to sources.
Investigators identified the men as suspects from surveillance footage after they were seen following Jocelyn as she walked into a local convenience store.
According to the girl’s family she had sneaked out of their home late Sunday and was taken “advantage” of by her killers who lured her to her death.
Authorities in Houston are still investigating whether Nungaray’s killers sexually assaulted her.
Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the suspects’ immigration histories.