The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge has been renamed to honor Jocelyn Nungaray, a Houston girl who was murdered last year.
ANAHUAC, Texas — The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge has officially been renamed in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Houston girl who was murdered last year.
Nungaray was found dead in June 2024 after she was reported missing. The case got national attention and led to the Justice for Jocelyn Act.
In March, Alexis Nungaray, her mother, was a guest of First Lady Melania Trump for the president’s address to a joint session of Congress. President Donald Trump spoke about Jocelyn and her mother in the speech.
Trump revealed he had signed an executive order renaming a wildlife refuge in Chambers County. The order renamed the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.
On Thursday, a ceremony was held at the refuge in honor of the renaming. Gov. Greg Abbott and Secretary Doug Burgum were in attendance.
In a post to X, Abbott said Jocelyn loved animals and nature.
“This sanctuary is a tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon,” Abbott said on X.
Trump has been outspoken about Nungaray’s case, as her accused killers were in the country illegally. They are both charged with capital murder and face the death penalty.