Even the police were stunned. The gang was arrested. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. I ain't ever gonna hear that again, that hurts," said Randy Ertman, the victim's father. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Drag images here or select from your computer for Elizabeth Christine Pea memorial. She then attempted to flee. Cantu, Medelln, Prez, and Villarreal then met at Cantu's residence, where he lived with his brother, Joe Cantu, and sister-in-law, Christina Cantu. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. Try again. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Three were executed, and the rest are still in prison. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. Jester Park looks much the same as it did 25 years ago, but there's an addition of two park benches in honor of two friends who died here in 1993. They probably would be married women now, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, perhaps with children of their own. ). Their killers were soon rounded upa brutal, unrepentant gang of teenage boys whose convictions should have put them behind bars for life. 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. The person not sentenced to death, 14 Try again later. endobj Try again later. Six teenagers repeatedly raped, assaulted, then beat the girls to death, beyond recognition. 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. 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. 0000004107 00000 n Derrick O'Brien, belted to a gurney, looked through the death chamber stream /Filter /FlateDecode New development was everywhere, spurred by a mayor and city council devoted to the cause of building. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 0000003012 00000 n Kahan assisted the girl's parents in changing state policy to allow relatives of victims to witness executions. This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. The teens were killed in TC Jester Park as part of a gang initiation Ertman Pena Fol. Jester Park in order to make an 11:30 curfew. 3 of the main members who were 18 or over were sentenced to death and it was carried out 2006,2008,2010 respectively. 0000001544 00000 n Failed to report flower. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Both then completed the act by strangling the girl with a shoelace in Pea's presence. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Weve updated the security on the site. Jester Park. "Peter A. Cantu, Texas Executed August 17" (Chapter 35). Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. Learn more about managing a memorial . In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. In response to accusations from anti-death penalty advocates that capital punishment 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. She screamed. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. There was an error deleting this problem. front of [Houston] City Hall, they've got all these beautiful trees. The right of a defendant to talk with his or her consulate is specified in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; the United States is a party to the convention, although the U.S. withdrew from compulsory jurisdiction in 1986 to accept the court's jurisdiction only on a case-by-case basis. The deaths of teenagers Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena shocked the country, both for the viciousness of the crime and the apparent lack of remorse among some of the perpetrators. endobj Jester Park. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak. The execution of, Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. >> Country music star and Conroe-native, Parker McCollum caught up with our Sally Mac after he was named the headliner for 2023's Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. One night the words turned into acts. Search above to list available cemeteries. The architect of their deaths will pay with his own life Tuesday evening. 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> 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. Fv 27, 2023 . /Length 1385 murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin Posted at 01:41h in to avoid accidents, a defensive driver should by Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, testified against 4 of the gang members. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Put a needle in her arm and just go to sleep. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. x^WnF0q$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 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. This is a carousel. Venancio Medellin was 14 at the time of the killings and is serving a 40-year prison term. O'Brien was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal drugs began. Randy Ertman's fiery red hair is gray, and now Cantu is dead. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . A red nylon belt, with an attacker tugging at each end, was pulled so tightly around Ertman's neck the belt snapped. No crime in modern Houston history has resonated like this one, Kahan said. way, but if they want to make the death penalty a deterrent, up in Minutes before Pea and Ertman encountered these gang members, two other gang members, twins Frank and Ramon Sandoval had participated in Villarreal's initiation ceremony. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. A system error has occurred. You're welcome to hang with us anytime!" /OutputBin 7 Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Sorry! [33], Medelln's impending execution became an international controversy since the state did not hold a hearing about whether the inability of Medelln to meet with Mexican consular officials harmed his defense. Authorities later linked him and O'Brien to a killing six months before the attack on Ertman and Pena. [38], Seventeen years after the crimes, Peter Anthony Cantu was executed on August 17, 2010. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. 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. Try again later. ", It also had other ramifications. Cantu had been troubled and violent since his early youth. 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. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. The girls' bodies were found decomposing in the . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. /E 11282 We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. [6], The girls were walking along the White Oak Bayou when they encountered six "Black and White" gang members drinking beer shortly after holding the gang initiation ceremony of 17-year-old Raul Omar Villarreal. Jennifer's father made the drive here four years ago for the first execution. 0000005760 00000 n [5], Leaving the crime scene, Cantu handed Venancio Medelln a Goofy wristwatch taken from Ertman's body, saying, "Take this, I don't want it. In August 2008, Ertman again climbed the steps to the red-bricked 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Peter Cantu, the leader of the gang, ordered the members to kill the girls. "Why do I watch? Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Prior to his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. He then elaborated that he had raped both girls. 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. Five others were convicted of capital murder in the case. Jester Park. She'd been raped and eviscerated. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7051821/jennifer-lee-ertman. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. curfew. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Look at me good!". 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.". Please reset your password. Both had observed Pea and Ertmans' abduction, initial assault, and screams for help. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. 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 . Try again. >> Add to your scrapbook. We love them and miss them," Adolph Pena said. The bodies were able to be identified by their dental records. be a deterrent.". Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving network, Texas college students now allowed to carry guns on campus, Former Astros GM James Click hired by American League contender, How a legendary New Orleans bartender earned his place in history, Video shows chaos after Houston pickup truck lands on 4 cars, Texas UPS employees arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob hits city, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Your essential and exhaustive guide to 2023 Houston rodeo food, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving the network, Crosby ISD adopts 4-day school week, a first in Harris County, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, Tips for bringing your dog or cat on a flight, Houston leaders to vote on fate of Pappas' Hobby Airport contract, Hidalgo: more Ohio train derailment waste coming to Harris County, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. >> Sadly, they never made it. HOUSTON - State officials have denied parole for Venancio Medellin, the youngest of six gang members convicted of the vicious rapes and murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena in 1993. MORE ON CRIMESIDERAugust 17, 2010 - Peter Anthony Cantu Execution: Mastermind of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murders to Die, First published on August 18, 2010 / 12:40 PM. Two of Cantu's companions in the gang they dubbed the Black and White preceded him to the death chamber. The two were students of Waltrip High School. The 61-year-old died Monday, said Andy Kahan, a Houston crime victims advocate. at the time, got a 40-year sentence. 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. Peter Cantu then returned, and divided valuables that had been stolen from the girls. Failed to report flower. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 0000000931 00000 n 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. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E", so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. Follow Deborah Wrigley on Facebook and Twitter. % Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. 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. Shoelaces were used to strangle Pena. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. 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. /L 64011 Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding and Prez had a bloody shirt. 72 17 At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. To save time, they took a shortcut that led along railroad tracks near T.C. >> 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. Dude, you're a badass! This account has been disabled. to Ertman. The rapes and murders of Jennifer Lee Ertman and Elizabeth Christine Pea, two teenage girls from Houston, Texas, aged 14 and 16, respectively, occurred on June 24, 1993. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. They probably would be married women now. 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. He was 35 and had lived on death row longer than his victims were alive. There is a problem with your email/password. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Seventeen years after the crimes, Peter Anthony Cantu was executed on August 17, 2010. They spoke of having "a lot of fun (with) a couple of chicks.". Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Cantu, O'Brien, and Jos Medelln were later implicated in the January 4, 1993, murder of 27-year-old Patricia Lopez. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. They were crossing a railroad bridge when the gang, drinking beer and initiating a new member, spotted them. The day after the murders, Cantu showed up at his job at an oil change shop and acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, his boss told the Chronicle at the time. ). Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl, and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. [24][25][26], At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. Jester Park.[43]. Due to the state of decomposition, she could not tell what was used to strangle Jennifer Ertman, but the evidence was consistent with a belt or hands being used. were 17 when the girls were killed were spared the death penalty when He is now 41 and has served 27 years of his 40-year sentence. "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. There was a problem getting your location. There was an error deleting this problem. He made a promise to their families. Those who lived near his home in Houston Heights described him as a nightmare neighbor - loud, obnoxious, rude and uncaring - and spoke of large groups of young men his age who would gather at the home when no adults were around. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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." Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Peter Anthony Cantu (AP Photo/Texas Dept. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Jester Park in northwest Houston. Two others I think were 17 and got life. /OpenAction 71 0 R Join us as we discuss this heinous attack. Wage growth is slowing. Home / Uncategorized / murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin 0000009909 00000 n Ertman's daughter Jennifer, 14, and her friend, 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, were attacked June 24, 1993, by. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Jos Ernesto Medelln appealed his execution, saying that he had informed City of Houston and Harris County police officers that he was a Mexican citizen, and that he had been unable to confer with Mexican consular officials. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jennifer Lee Ertman I found on Findagrave.com. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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.
Sheriff Grady Judd 68 Times, Where Is Theodosia Burr Buried, Lampasas County Jail Roster, Sexism In Football Examples, Jason Davis Kstp, Articles E