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FBI offering $10,000 reward for info leading to arrest of suspects in deadly New Mexico wildfires

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The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects responsible for starting two New Mexico wildfires that killed two people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of structures. 

The South Fork and Salt Fires were discovered near Ruidoso, New Mexico on June 17. The FBI said the fires caused “significant damage.” 

The twin wildfires forced thousands to flee their homes. Full-time residents of Ruidoso will be allowed to return to their village Monday morning but were advised to bring drinking water, at least a week’s worth of food, and be prepared to be without gas, electricity or water. 

The FBI said it was seeking public assistance in identifying the cause of the fires, though a Sunday notice pointedly suggested humans were responsible. The $10,000 reward being offered by the bureau is for information “leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico.” 

Lincoln County Manager Randall Camp said Saturday that “we are approaching a thousand homes lost” in the fires.

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TANKER TRUCK EXPLODES ON TEXAS HIGHWAY LEAVING SEVERAL CRITICALLY INJURED

President Joe Biden has issued a disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico. The move freed up funding and more resources to help with recovery efforts including temporary housing, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property and other emergency work in Lincoln County and on lands belonging to the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

A charred car and the remains of the Swiss Chalet Hotel are pictured after being destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

More than 1,100 firefighters continued to fight the flames in steep and rocky terrain Sunday. The South Fork and Salt fires are still burning on both sides of Ruidoso and a threat of flash floods still looms over the village.

The National Interagency Fire Center said the South Fork Fire, which reached 26 square miles, was 31% contained Sunday. It said the Salt Fire that has spread over 12 square miles was now 7% contained. Full containment isn’t expected until July 15.

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new mexico wildfire

Smoke rises off the remains of a house destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Authorities said downed power lines, damaged water, sewer and gas lines plus flooding in burn scars continued to pose risks to firefighters and the public.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham toured some of the disaster area on Saturday with Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell.

Even with federal and state assistance on the table, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford estimates it could take at least five years for the area to fully recover.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Southwest

Jocelyn Nungaray murder: Illegal immigrant suspect accused of killing Houston girl has bail set at $10M

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One of the two illegal immigrant suspects charged with murdering 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston last week had his bail set at $10 million during his first court appearance Monday.

Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, have each been charged with capital murder. Peña Ramos, who appeared Monday at Harris County Criminal Court, was determined by Judge Josh Hill to be a flight risk and was told that if he posts bail, he must wear a GPS monitor and remain under house arrest, among other restrictions. 

“She had such a bright future ahead of her and I knew she was going to go very far. And these monsters took that opportunity from her, from our family of watching her,” Nungaray’s mother Alexis told reporters following the hearing. 

“I just want people to remember, I know this is very high-profile case, but she was still my first born. I was a teen mom, I fought for her at 15. I’m 27 now, I’m still fighting for her,” 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.” 

SUSPECTS ‘LURED’ TEXAS 12-YEAR-OLD TO HER DEATH, PROSECUTORS SAY 

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Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother Alexis Nungaray speaks following Pena Ramos’ court appearance on Monday, June 24. (KRIV)

Prosecutors last week had requested bail for each suspect to be set at $1 million and a medical examiner listed the cause of death as strangulation. 

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also said Monday alongside Alexis Nungaray that prosecutors will ask for the same bond for Martinez-Rangel tomorrow and “as soon as our lab results are back, and if they support a death penalty-eligible type of capital murder, then we will come back and ask for no bond.”

“In this case the defendant lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over 2 hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou,” Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote in court documents obtained by Fox News.

Jocelyn Nungaray murder suspects

Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel have been charged in the killing of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston on Monday, June 17. (Harris County Jail)

Alexis Nungaray was inside Harris County Criminal Court for the hearing today. 

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“I still see her face in the back of my head every day, all day. I keep getting little signs about her throughout the days,” she also said. “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.” 

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos court appearance

Franklin Jose Peña Ramos appears in court on Monday, June 24.

On Thursday, Fox News reported that the two suspects from Venezuela had entered the U.S. illegally before being released from custody. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson confirmed the news on Friday, saying in a statement that “Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.” 

WHITE HOUSE SLAMMED FOR STATEMENT ON DEATHS OF RACHEL MORIN, JOCELYN NUNGARAY 

images of Jocelyn Nungaray

Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek this week. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)

Investigators used surveillance video to track the movements of Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos before and after the killing, Houston Police Lt. Stephen Hope said last week. 

Police said Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos, along with Nungaray, were seen walking to a 7-Eleven convenience store. 

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Jocelyn Nungaray killed in Houston

Two men who were seen on surveillance footage with a 12-year-old girl hours before her body was found in a Houston creek earlier this week were arrested on Thursday, June 20, 2024 in connection with her death, police said. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)

 

Afterward, the three of them walked to a bridge, where investigators said Nungaray was murdered. Martinez-Rangel and Peña Ramos then walked to the apartment they shared and left the girl’s body behind, police said. Police believe the pair lived in the same apartment complex as Nungaray.  

Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Louis Casiano and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Google made an excellent smartwatch for kids

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Google made an excellent smartwatch for kids

Let’s face it: there aren’t many good options for a kids smartwatch.

Apple’s is great and lots of people like Verizon’s Gizmo Watch, but after that things sort of fall off.

Now, Google is stepping up with a highly capable smartwatch that aims to keep kids active, connected, and smartphone-free.

I’ve been testing the new Fitbit Ace LTE with my son and it’s clear that Google did their homework on this one. It’s targeted at kids 7-11.

“We asked ourselves, could we build a device that kids loved and parents loved?” said Anil Sabharwal, Vice President of Product Management at Google.

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After spending time with the watch, I can say they’ve come pretty close to achieving that goal. The device makes it easy to stay in touch with your child, and I was surprised to discover just how active my kid is throughout the day.

The Fitbit Ace LTE comes with a snap-on bumper and fun, interchangeable bands. It’s also water-resistant.

“One of the first tests we insisted on is it has to pass the washing machine test” said Sabharwal.

One of the standout features is the built-in cellular connectivity. The watch doesn’t link to your phone or plan; instead, it uses Google’s Fi network. This allows you to call and message your child (and vice versa) and see their real-time location on a map.

It’s worth noting that since the device isn’t assigned a phone number, all calling and messaging must be done through the app. Trusted contacts will need to download the app as well.

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This is a bit of an annoyance, but there’s also a benefit: no one random can call or text the device, which means no spammy “party invites” my kid gets on his “other” watch.

The Fitbit Ace LTE has built-in games designed to keep kids active. In fact, you can’t play them unless you move around first.

“They’re immersive, they’re fun. You are fishing. You’re dancing. You’re a chicken in a bathtub racing through space,” explained Sabharwal.

Google has put a strong emphasis on privacy with this device. Location data is deleted within 24 hours, activity data within 35 days and there are no third-party apps to download or install. Data is not used for ads or other purposes.

“It really truly is a device that’s been built with privacy and data minimization right at the forefront,’ said Sabharwal.

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Overall, the Fitbit Ace LTE is an excellent way to keep track of and stay in touch with kids who might not be ready for a smartphone. It strikes a nice balance between connectivity and independence.

“And that’s what this device is all about, is growing independence for kids in a really healthy, fun way and strengthening those connections with family,” concluded Sabharwal.

The Fitbit Ace LTE costs $229, and cellular service is $10 per month. Google has a promotion running through August 31 where if you purchase the first year of service, you can get 50% off, or $60. Available at the Google Store and Amazon.

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Southwest

Illegal immigrant accused of raping, murdering girl, 12, wore ICE ankle monitor when crime occurred

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A suspect in the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston last week was wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) ankle bracelet at the time of the crime.

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, one of the suspects behind the murder, appeared in court Monday at Harris County Criminal Court, where it was revealed that he was wearing the ankle monitor at the time he allegedly murdered Nungaray.

The ankle bracelet was provided to him when he was arrested by Border Patrol agents after entering the country illegally and being released from custody, with ICE telling Fox News in a statement Friday that he “illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.”

ICE also has a retainer on Ramos, the agency said.

JOCELYN NUNGARAY MURDER: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING HOUSTON GIRL HAS BAIL SET AT $10M

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Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez have been charged in the killing of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas, on Monday, June 17. (Harris County Jail)

Judge Josh Hill, who presided over Monday’s proceedings, also noted that Ramos and 21-year-old Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, the other suspect in the case, faced allegations that they were attempting to gather money to flee town.

The judge set Ramos’ bail to $10 million during the appearance, more than double the $5 million requested by prosecutors.

Pena’s defense had suggested a bail set at $1 million, but the judge argued he represented an “astronomical” flight risk and said the chances of the suspect returning to court would be “near zero.”

If Ramos were to make bail, the judge ordered that he must wear a GPS monitor, be on house arrest 24/7, remain in Harris County, have no contact with the other suspect or the victim’s family, not have contact with anyone under the age of 18, not be in possession of firearms, drugs, or alcohol, and to surrender his passport.

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Jose Pena Ramos in court before judge

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos appears in court on Monday, June 24. (KRIV)

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECTS IN TEXAS GIRL’S MURDER WERE RECENTLY CAUGHT BY BORDER PATROL, RELEASED INTO US 

Ramos and Martinez are accused of luring the young girl under a bridge in Houston before tying her up and killing her. 

“In this case the defendant lured a 12-year-old under a bridge, where he and his co-defendant remained with her for over 2 hours, took her pants off, tied her up, and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou,” Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Abner wrote.

Jocelyn Nungaray with birthday cake, left; with instrument, right

Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek this week. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)

Investigators were able to use surveillance video to track the movements of the two before and after the killing, police said.

 

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Both suspects are charged with capital murder, while Martinez is set to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday.

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