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Somehow the story became worse at trial. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "It's been a long journey, and for the families an emotional roller coaster.". They expressed no regret or even a second thought at what they had done. to Ertman. English /Filter /FlateDecode
Medelln gave both written and taped confessions. Make sure that the file is a photo. Three others have long prison terms. The murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, two teenage girls from Houston, Texas, occurred on June 24, 1993.The murder of the two girls made headlines in Texas newspapers due to the nature of the crime and the new law resulting from the murder that allows families of the victims to view the execution of the murderers.. . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Jester Park in northwest Houston. RELATED: Haunting killings of 2 Houston teens leaves lasting legacy for victim's rights, At least 29 dead, 85 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials, Driver feedback needed for 3-mile Hardy Toll extension into downtown, Man found dead in middle of Fort Bend County crosswalk, police say. Failed to report flower. >>
Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 73 0 obj
Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. This is a carousel with slides. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. At home, nothing appeared to constrain him. / CBS News. This was something more than the danger inherent in big-city life. Five of the gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an hour. All those believed responsible were ultimately arrested. Where [are] you going?" Venancio Medelln did rape Ertman on one occasion. The parents of the murder victims successfully advocated for the State of Texas allowing relatives of victims to have permission to witness executions. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. Put a needle in her arm and just go to sleep. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. /N 31
He received a 40-year prison sentence, the maximum for a juvenile, for the sexual assault of Jennifer Ertman. WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider whether one of the six killers of Houston teenagers Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea should escape execution because he was . Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, testified against 4 of the gang members. [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 2008 execution of one of the perpetrators, Jos Medelln . Two Waltrip High School students had left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be home before their curfew. If it could show up at such a nondescript moment - teenagers unknown to each other passing in the night - perhaps no one's safety was more than an illusion. Resend Activation Email. "Life without parole is a better alternative, both for society and better from the viewpoint of punishing the individuals," said Scott Cobb of the Texas Moratorium Network. She then attempted to flee. There was a problem getting your location. Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. Add to your scrapbook. Houston was stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. Kahan, who had become close to the families, said Ertman's bellicose rebuke was an inevitable culmination of eight exhausting months and five trials filled with gruesome details of his daughter's death. Search above to list available cemeteries. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. HUNTSVILLE, Texas (CBS/AP/KHOU) Tonight, Peter Anthony Cantu will be executed for two of the most notorious deaths in Houston history, the 1993 rapes and murders of 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena. Raul Villareal and Efrain Perez were also sentenced to death but saw their punishment commuted to a life sentence because they were both 17 when the crime was committed. Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. startxref
Nine minutes later, he was dead. All Rights Reserved. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. If you're planning on using the METRO to helo you get to and from the Houston Rodeo, here's everything you need to plan out your ride! On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl, and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murders. "It's a little late," Ertman said. 0000011007 00000 n
You're not even an animal. The bodies were able to be identified by their dental records. "He's a guy who fully accepts his responsibility.". Leaving the crime scene, Peter Cantu handed Venancio Medelln a Goofy wristwatch taken from Ertman's body, saying, "Take this, I don't want it.". Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. of Criminal Justice), How Alaska became one of fentanyl's deadliest frontiers, Pennsylvania police seized gloves, flashlight from home of Idaho murders suspect, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Anderson, a Houston Police Department officer who worked on the murder case, described the murder as "part of the impetus for the antigang programs in Houston." O'Brien (the only non-Hispanic, Black person in the gang) and Villarreal strangled Ertman with O'Brien's red nylon belt before breaking the belt. For the families, it is a fight they will take beyond the grave. Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" Make sure that the file is a photo. xc```b``^dL`c@ >f(T0Fk^350QxA]gY=kfNy-3&00xLd$OexQ8 9L-K~p800.m``:Q *R There are multiple parking options available for those looking to attend the Houston Rodeo. His stinging denunciation of Cantu, pain evident in each word, reached a climax when Cantu turned away from the grieving father and Ertman yelled, "You look at me! Two who https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. Please try again later. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking.
[24][25][26], At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. 0000001187 00000 n
Please reset your password. [48] Another memorial exists at T.C. English Then again, no one has forgotten much of anything about those murders. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jennifer Lee Ertman I found on Findagrave.com. [35], In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. Two of Cantu's companions in the gang they dubbed the Black and White preceded him to the death chamber. ", It also had other ramifications. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Four days later, when searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, their bodies were unrecognizable. Seventeen years after the crimes, Peter Anthony Cantu was executed on August 17, 2010. But not until an anonymous 911 call four days later were the bodies of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena finally recovered. They probably would be married women now. He was the ringleader in a crime that struck a raw nerve for its sheer brutality: the repeated gang rape, torture and murder of 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman and 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena in 1993. Jester Park. [5] This location was approximately one mile from Pea's home. In response to accusations from anti-death penalty advocates that the death penalty is a cruel and unusual form of punishment, Pea's father later remarked O'Brien's death had occurred peacefully, "in twenty seconds", adding: "I wish to God that my daughter could have died that easily. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 0000000931 00000 n
She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. %PDF-1.3
By approximately 10:30 p.m., Villarreal had successfully fought two gang members before being beaten midway through his fight with the third member. Verify and try again. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 0000000809 00000 n
There was a problem getting your location. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings, was released in 2008 and became a best seller. [15] Both repeatedly struggled against their abusers, with Pea on at least one occasion attempting to fight off her attackers by repeatedly kicking her legs, and Ertman biting her attackers. He was sentenced under juvenile guidelines because he was 14 at the time of the crime. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. According to later testimony, on one occasion, Pea glanced in the direction of her younger friend as she was raped by Efrain Prez and began weeping as she observed Ertman. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. trailer
. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E", so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. Resend Activation Email. [3], When the pair realized they were going to be late returning home, they decided to leave the party to conform to the curfew both had promised their parents. /Prev 62433
All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Both girls were sexually assaulted by all but one of the gang members, 14-year-old Venancio "Yuni" Medelln, on a minimum of four occasions. One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. /OutputBin 7
Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. his arms, also apologized. In June 1993, Houston was busy reveling in the boom after the bust. 0000009638 00000 n
You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. [36] Governor Perry rejected calls from Mexico and Washington, DC, to delay the execution, citing the torture, rape, and strangulation of two teenaged girls in Houston 15 years ago as just cause for the death penalty. /Pages 63 0 R
You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. /Resources << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace <<
For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The case was also notable in that the state of Texas rejected attempts by the International Court of Justice to halt the executions of several of the perpetrators. Please enter your email and password to sign in. endobj
front of [Houston] City Hall, they've got all these beautiful trees. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. ). Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. He then elaborated that he had raped both girls. Ertman and Pena were headed home from a party, and took a shortcut to make it home by their 11 p.m. curfew the night they were killed. Cantu's brother, Joe, testified about what inspired him to call police. Two of them will come up for parole in 2028. Family members are now allowed to address the convicted, and victims' families now have the choice and right to view. When the pair realized that they were going to be late returning home, they decided to leave the party to commit the curfew both had promised to their parents. >>
In what police later would describe as a sadistic frenzy, the girls were gang-raped for more than an hour. Three were executed, and the rest are still in prison. /Linearized 1
Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Failed to delete memorial. The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM Try again later. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder. The Ertmans and Penas are videotaping their protest for the parole board, in case they are not here in 18 years to protest in person. Year should not be greater than current year. Learn more about managing a memorial . <<
0 cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. When the pair realized that they were going to be late returning home, they decided to leave the party to commit the curfew both had promised to their parents. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. The execution of, Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. Verify and try again. Notice: This memorial is being managed in abeyance until a proper manager requests control of the memorial. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. the U.S. Supreme Court barred execution of people who were under 18 It will not erase from memory the faces in the photographs, or the knowledge of what happened to them. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A former gang member convicted for his role in the brutal murder of two Houston teens has been denied parole, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Their bodies were found four days later. The murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena have had an impact on victim's rights in Texas still felt 25 years after their deaths. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Try again later. /Length 166
The girls' families came to witness the execution and were met by supporters and applause when they walked out of the Walls Unit. Both repeatedly struggled against their abusers, with Pea on at least one occasion attempting to fight off her attackers by repeatedly kicking her legs, and Ertman biting her attackers. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. He had fought or bullied other students, assaulted a teacher, threatened another youth with a knife in a parking lot after deliberately provoking a confrontation. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. You're the worst thing I've ever seen. The case spurred legislative reform in Texas' criminal justice system. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). /Type /Page
To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. endstream
The case forced a change in state police. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Instead they are forever 14 and 16, a pair of innocents who slipped into the darkness of Houston's near north side one summer night and re-emerged in bright sunlight on a funeral home gurney targets of a crime so incomprehensible that it was, in the words of one of the lawyers later involved, burned into the collective consciousness of the city. "I'd like to have heard, the last 17 years, someone say 'I love you, dad.' Six anonymous teens stoked on alcohol and testosterone needed only an hour or so to make their mark on the city. The attackers shouted obscenities at TV cameras when they were arrested and reportedly bragged of their crimes once in their jail cells. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Shoelaces were used to strangle Pena. Jennifer Ertman's dad, Randy Ertman, was about to give an interview . Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57 pm on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. Medellin has been denied parole five times now. In: Mangino, Matthew T. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 03:48. Ertman, however, doesn't agree with that viewpoint. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Ertman could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend. "[43], Randy Ertman, the father of Jennifer Ertman, died of lung cancer on August 18, 2014. /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 791 ]
He threatened to kill security guards at the alternative school he periodically attended. 88 0 obj
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