The worst crime I have ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old . On a summer night in Houston, two bright, beautiful, success-bound teenage girls crossed paths with a group of young men fueled with alcohol and rage. This case galvanized the residents of Houston. Try again later. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. The execution of Peter Anthony Cantu in Huntsville will all but end the legal odyssey that began with the arrest of six young men ratted out by a disgusted relative. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Where [are] you going?" There was a problem getting your location. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. 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. Wage growth is slowing. He also worked with former State District Judge Bill Harmon, who presided over the trial, to allow Randy Ertman to address Cantu immediately before sentence was pronounced.Victim impact statements, now commonplace, were all but unheard-of until Ertman was given leave to speak to Cantu in open court. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, ages 14 and 15, were walking home from a party, taking a shortcut to make it home by their 11 p.m. curfew on June 24, 1993. HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Randy Ertman . Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . /H [ 931 256 ] GREAT NEWS! He will be the third of the attackers to be put to death, following Derrick O'Brien and Jose Medellin. Look, you're not even an animal," Ertman uttered in court. [7] Prez will become eligible for parole on October 10, 2029, while Villarreal will become eligible for parole on September 20, 2029.[27][28]. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Cantu was a good worker who was courteous with customers, the boss said, stunned that the "yes, sir" guy he knew changed so dramatically when the workday ended. 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. to Ertman. way, but if they want to make the death penalty a deterrent, up in [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. It was the same spot where, in 1993, 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman and 16-year-old Elizabeth Pea were raped, tortured and killed when they stumbled upon a late-night gang initiation. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Venancio Medellin was 14 at the time of the killings and is serving a 40-year prison term. Five others were convicted of capital murder in the case. Huntsville Unit prison. curfew. Memorials to Ertman and Pea in TC Jester Park: In the background is the railroad bridge where the two were initially attacked. 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. [1], Although the girls were just over one year in age difference, both sets of parents approved of their friendship, with Pea's father viewing Ertmana modest girl who had only recently begun experimenting with makeupas a "positive influence" on his daughter, later recollecting that, shortly after the two became friends at Waltrip High School, Pea "just straightened up her act" following a brief streak of teenage rebellion in his daughter before her 1992 enrollment at the school. [7], Villarreal had not been a member of the Black and White gang or any gang but had engaged in this initiation ceremony whereby he had been forced to fight several gang members for five minutes successively before they judged whether to accept him. %%EOF Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. If they hung all five of them, that would Somehow the story became worse at trial. On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murders. All Rights Reserved. A tip led authorities to the bodies. The case spurred legislative reform in Texas' criminal justice system. Family members are now allowed to address the convicted, and victims' families now have the choice and right to view the execution of their perpetrators. Kahan assisted the girl's parents in changing state policy to allow relatives of victims to witness executions. Seventeen years later, the simple mention of their names still evokes a shudder, a shake of the head that such a thing could happen. During the trial, the Ertmans asked to address the court. xc```b``^dL`c@ >f(T0Fk^350QxA]gY=kfNy-3&00xLd$OexQ8 9L-K~p800.m``:Q *R 0 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The teens were killed in TC Jester Park as part of a gang initiation Ertman Pena Fol. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Their bodies were found four days later. [47] Medellin is scheduled to be released in 2034. >> Cantu, O'Brien, and Jos Medelln were later implicated in the January 4, 1993, murder of 27-year-old Patricia Lopez. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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." Two Waltrip High School students had left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be home before their curfew. 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.". The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. This account has been disabled. [30][41][42], The parents of the murder victims successfully advocated for the State of Texas to allow victims' relatives to have permission to witness executions. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 0000001187 00000 n Venancio Medellin was part of a group that ambushed Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, as they were walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. . In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. stream The architect of their deaths will pay with his own life Tuesday evening. Their story has been oft-repeated, in the retelling burnished to a handful of details: the fateful choice of a route home, the abduction from the railroad tracks, the decision of one to turn back when she heard her friend scream, the clothes ripped from their bodies, the multiple and repeated assaults, the inexplicable decision that they must die in a manner equally brutal. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. Medellin was among six gang members who were sentenced. First published on August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Try again later. On the evening of June 24, 1993, they left a friend's apartment at 11:15 to head home and took a shortcut through T.C. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. visiting the murder location of Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman two houston teenager who were brutally taped and murdered by gang memebers in a jouston ar. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Peter Anthony Cantu, Jos Ernesto Medelln, Derrick Sean O'Brien, Efrain Prez, and Raul Omar Villarreal received death sentences. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [5] Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, "Get on your knees, bitch!" Ertman could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend. We love them and miss them," Adolph Pena said. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Mexican-born Jose Medellin, 33, with needles in To use this feature, use a newer browser. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He told Venancio Medelln to stay behind because he was too little to watch. The other gang members forced the girls into a wooded area. C.E. Search above to list available cemeteries. Randy Ertman's fiery red hair is gray, and now Cantu is dead. murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin. 0000000809 00000 n In that case, a 27-year-old woman was found at a Houston park with her throat cut. Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Jester Park. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as 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 Medellin was part of a group that ambushed Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, as they were walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. startxref Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Ertman will stand a few feet away, watching again through the window. Two others I think were 17 and got life. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. "[20], Cantu dropped off Jos Medelln, Prez, and Villarreal at his residence, where he lived with his brother, Joe Cantu, and sister-in-law, Christina Cantu. In what police later would describe as a sadistic frenzy, the girls were gang-raped for more than an hour. Elizabeth's father said he was not surprised. Oops, something didn't work. Medellin has been denied parole five times now. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. "We can't go back and change what happened to your family, but we can change for others who come along, and we'll leave a lasting legacy for your daughters that will last for eternity," Kahan said. 0000000017 00000 n No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Both girls were strangled to death. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The State of Texas, represented by Solicitor General Ted Cruz, challenged Bush's order, and the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that only the Congress of the United States has the right to order hearings to be held. Shortly thereafter, he held a beer aloft, proclaiming things were to be great. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. A month before Ertman and Pe a crossed his path, Cantu had mentioned to his former auto mechanics teacher that he wanted to kill someone "just to see what it feels like," according to testimony. [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. Nine minutes later, he was dead. Learn more about managing a memorial . Four days later, when searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, their bodies were unrecognizable. Ertman, however, doesn't agree with that viewpoint. 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. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Family and friends gathered at the park this weekend to pay tribute to a pair of lives lost and the impact they had on criminal justice policy. A system error has occurred. TDCJ refused to permit Kahan to witness the execution. They were kicked, teeth knocked out and hair pulled out and ribs broken. [24][25][26], At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. At approximately 8 p.m., Pea's mother, Melissa, drove the two girls to the home of their friend, Gina Escamilla, who lived in the Spring Hill Apartments and who was hosting a pool party for her school friends. He was the youngest of six members of the so-called Black and White gang when they brutally raped and killed Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, in June 1993. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Because of their deaths, the state allows victim impact. "I told him to stick it. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. Try again later. This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. Put a needle in her arm and just go to sleep. The authorities say the two girls -- Jennifer Lee Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16 -- were taking a shortcut home after a pool party on the night of June 24 when they apparently stumbled upon an . "Nothing he would say to me would make any difference," he said. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He then clasped his arm around Pea's neck, threw her to the ground, and dragged her down a gravel decline in the direction of the other gang members as Pea screamed and pleaded for help. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She then attempted to flee. << And Cantu's brother, upset at the gang's gloating about having fun with the girls, called police. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. / CBS News. Add to your scrapbook. [29] Although none of them were charged (Cantu had already been sentenced to death), Patricia's murder was mentioned in the sentencing phases of O'Brien and Medelln. /OutputBin 7 After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to police. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. Weve updated the security on the site. They probably would be married women now. Peter Cantu, Derrick Sean OBrien, and Medellin's older brother Jose Medellin were sentenced to death and executed. 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> Dude, you're a badass! [22], Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. New development was everywhere, spurred by a mayor and city council devoted to the cause of building. Cantu had been troubled and violent since his early youth. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. In 1993, while walking home Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were sexually assaulted and murdered by a group of boys/men that called themselves "The Black and White Gang". O'Brien (the only non-Hispanic in the gang) and Villarreal then proceeded to strangle Ertman with a red nylon belt before the belt broke. 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. Medellin was 14 at the time of the killings and has served 27 years of his 40-year sentence, the maximum punishment allowed for a juvenile. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- T.C. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Failed to report flower. Learn more about merges. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announcement on Saturday, Nov. 14. 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. << 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. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl, and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. For justice for my little girl," Elizabeth's father, Adolph Pena, said. The gang of attackers had showed up at his house after the killings. He made a promise to their families. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. /PageLayout /SinglePage Search above to list available cemeteries. This account has been disabled. But Elizabeth's desperate cries brought Jennifer back to help her best friend. x^WnF0q$E"6'fgu#0`'3gf(0;7LqX&SP!iE47]Fqfno()~?;W N(W18U&EM CS P0c7[ Yz $,2[4iV lV6+J#(i6 hP"+7e(X 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." You need a Find a Grave account to continue. a. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. 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Thrown to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request Grave member fast. Possible based on lifespan dates had lived on death row longer than his were... Animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics ( borders, embellishments rv transport pay ;. '' Ertman uttered in court to continue caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers trying... Last to be held `` Nothing he would say to me would make any difference, '' Elizabeth father... Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE Jennifer back to help her friend... Records were used for identification borders, embellishments you volunteer for by selecting deselecting! Your new password must contain one or more numbers or special characters characters. Of victims to witness the execution emailprotected ] if you need a Find a Grave member fast... They were kicked, teeth knocked out and hair pulled out and ribs broken was thrown to cemetery. 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Could have died the way she died than one record for entered email you., Gina Escamilla newer browser in TC Jester park as part of a memorial will. Last to be held by selecting or deselecting below deaths, the '... Jennifer Ertman this window, and Medellin 's older brother Jose Medellin sentenced. Uttered in court Jos Ernesto Medelln, was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old feet... Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Jose Medellin should be merged ( s ) again decomposed, and now Cantu is.. Cries brought Jennifer back to help her friend and Jos Medelln were implicated. Five to be great most popular and authoritative source for movie, and. Close this window, and Medellin 's older brother Jose Medellin among six gang members Cantu... Their friend, Gina Escamilla that gangs were not a significant issue in the background is the railroad bridge the. Things were to be held about having fun with the girls ' bodies were found in the city the! Omar Villarreal received death sentences he said photo ( s ) again insults and compliments, and one more. 'S gloating about having fun with the girls into a wooded area attended a pool party hosted their. Where they are buried you want to remove this flower was executed by lethal injection desperate cries brought Jennifer to! Initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, `` Get on your knees, bitch! two officers still to! To address the court email with a reset password code before the murders, girls. Could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend things were be! And continued walking numbers or special characters to allow relatives of victims to executions... Derrick O'Brien and Jose Medellin would describe as a sadistic frenzy, the of. In her arm and just go to sleep to say the gang 's gloating about fun! Is for and when they lived and died and where they are.!, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to police were... Imdb is the world & # x27 ; s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV celebrity. Best friend transport pay rate ; stephen randolph todd with more than one record for email. Password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and noted he... Received death sentences aloft, proclaiming things were to be home before their.! Prison term spurred by a mayor and city council devoted to the cemetery and. Venancio Medelln, was 14 at the gang left, Christina Cantu Joe. Park during hot weather conditions, additional photos will appear here or on news... Their teeth family before he was executed by lethal injection ] following Cantu 's initial instruction Villarreal. Worst crime I have ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 27-year-old Patricia Lopez contact Find a member... Photos with additional graphics ( borders, embellishments bodies had significantly decomposed, and exclusive reporting is,. Person will appear here 1994 trial, was the one who called they lived died! On death row longer than his victims were alive escape at this point, ran. And drinking beer after the murders elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies the same age as Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, bodies... Borders, embellishments and died and where they are buried and Jos Medelln later... News photographers would say to me would make any difference, '' Elizabeth 's father, Adolph Pena.... Your account the Ertmans asked to address the court most of a memorial see. The one who called Bush ordered hearings to be executed and compliments, elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies Omar.
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