Ertman rejected an invitation from Cantu's lawyer to come to his office and read a letter of apology from Cantu. This photo released by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Jose Medellin who is set for execution at the Texas Prison in Huntsville, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008. Failed to report flower. [35], In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. 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. Beyond Evil:The Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena FILE Randy Ertman is restrained Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1994, in Houston outside the courtroom where he addressed three of the five gang members convicted of killing his daughter and her friend. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. I believe only non violent offenders are capable of and deserving of rehabilitation. Villarreal was convicted of murder in 1994 for his involvement in the rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, in 1993 during a gang initiation. Adolph Pena, embraced by his wife, Melissa, wears a shirt showing the pictures of his slain daughter, Elizabeth, left, and her friend, Jennifer Ertman, who were killed by killed by gang members five years ago. "[43], Randy Ertman, the father of Jennifer Ertman, died of lung cancer on August 18, 2014. The medical examiner testified that Elizabeth's two front teeth were knocked out of her brutalized mouth before she died and that two of Jennifer's ribs were broken after she had died. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. 0000007142 00000 n % Try again later. I need not go further. Adolph and Melissa Pena are tying to keep their family strong as they remember their daughter, Elizabeth, and her friend, Jennifer Ertman, who were murdered in 1993. Guns, cops, all that shit. On June 24th 1993, a gang of men took the lives of 2 young girls. /Rotate 0 Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. It's satisfying to read that the death penalty was actually carried out on this pack of vermin. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? So I know that this is a trivial side point. For the families, it is a fight they will take beyond the grave. In June of 1993, the two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou. Part of the belt was left at the murder scene, the rest was found in O'Brien's home. [2], At 4:15 p.m. on June 24, 1993, Ertman's father, Randy, drove his only daughter to Pea's home. Did one of the culprits confess with that much detail? FED. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Six gang members were charged in their deaths, which shocked the city. 0 cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA. There was a problem getting your location. Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding and Prez had a bloody shirt. English This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Derrick O'Brien who is scheduled for execution at the Texas prison in Huntsville, Tuesday, May 16, 2006. 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. Autopsy photographs showed the differences in decomposition between those areas that suffered trauma and those that did not, such as Jennifer Ertman's legs, chest, and . 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder 38,716 views Dec 20, 2018 507 Dislike Share Save KPRC 2 Click2Houston 485K subscribers The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth. You can always change this later in your Account settings. PDF United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED 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. posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder.The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena rocks Houston. 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. January 24, 2023. In response, Cantu repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three of her teeth and fracturing several ribs. Cantu was the ringleader of five gang members who raped and killed the girls at a Houston park - a crime that horrified the city in 1993. 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder - YouTube The break in solving the case came from, of course, the 911 call. 'Gonzalez' said that his brother was one of the six people involved in killing the girls, and gave police the names of all but one, the new recruit, whom he did not know. Jenny was strangled with the belt of Sean O'Brien, with two murderers pulling, one on each side, until the belt broke. These scum deserve to be treated as they treated those young girls. Venancio "Vinnie" Medellin: The Ultimate Parole Protest / CBS News. 0000004381 00000 n Haunting killings of 2 Houston teens 25 years ago leaves lasting legacy I hope he spends the entire 40 years in prison. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings, was released in 2008 and became a best seller. Where [are] you going?" As he lay writhing and moaning on the ground after being temporarily knocked unconscious, the gang members conferred privately to discuss whether to accept Villarreal as a member. Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. Learn more about managing a memorial . Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . Three of the Pena and Ertman killers have been executed. The Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena (Warning: Brutal Jester Park in northwest Houston. Both then completed the act by strangling the girl with a shoelace in Pea's presence. I ain't ever gonna hear that again, that hurts," said Randy Ertman, the victim's father. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. This means that the new member was required to fight every member of the gang until he passed out and then he would be accepted as a member. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. Failed to remove flower. [21], Peter Cantu then returned and divided the valuables that had been stolen from the girls. He received a 40-year prison sentence, the maximum for a juvenile, for the sexual assault of Jennifer Ertman. My first knowledge of the death of Jennifer was seeing Randy, on the news that evening, screaming at the police officers who were struggling to hold him back, "Does she have blond hair?? Really. 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. Two of Cantu's companions in the gang they dubbed the Black and White preceded him to the death chamber. "I don't mean this in a gruesome Hell, no.". Cantu was the ringleader of five gang members who raped and killed the girls at a Houston park - a crime that horrified the city in 1993. 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. All five gang members were sentenced to death for the July 1993 slayings of his 14-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. Memorials to Ertman and Pea in TC Jester Park: In the background is the railroad bridge where the two were initially attacked. Rose Rogers says a prayer at the memorial for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena along T.C. xref It's not pretty, but I think people need to know this - reddit The police helicopter was flying over the park and this apparently prompted Mr. 'Gonzalez' to make a 911 call, directing the search to move to the other side of the bayou. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. I hope you rot in hell.". 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. Police said the Waltrip High School students were. And Cantu's brother, upset at the gang's gloating about having fun with the girls, called police. jennifer ertman autopsy photos Resend Activation Email. 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. to Ertman. Take them out and shoot them - then hand them from a tree and let the vultures do their work. The confessions of the gang members that were used at trial indicated that there was never less than 2 men on each of the girls at any one time and that the girls were repeatedly raped orally, anally and vaginally for the entire hour. This had not previously been done in Texas courts and now is done as a matter of routine. Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, This is what Houston looks like from space. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. The medical examiner testified that Elizabeth's two front teeth were knocked out of her brutalized mouth before she died and that two of Jennifer's ribs were broken after she had died. [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. She then attempted to flee. Jester Park. Peter Cantu then returned, and divided valuables that had been stolen from the girls. 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 and 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman. >> Both victims were badly decaying, and dental records were used for identification. Ertman tried to help. Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" Living in Houston meant constant reminders of their daughter's murder. /Type /Catalog 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Peter Anthony Cantu (AP Photo/Dept. [16], Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Cantu[17] ordered the members to kill the girls. It was traced to the home of the brother of one of the men later sentenced to death for these murders. Evidence showed Cantu kicked one of the girls in the face with his steel-toed boot. jennifer ertman autopsy photos "I'd like to have heard, the last 17 years, someone say 'I love you, dad.' 1 of 3 Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. I think it's the first really sickening and gut-wrenching crime I read about when I was young. This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. The gang members ran and grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her down the incline, off of the tracks. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Randy commandeered the news van and went to the scene that was now bustling with police activity. After Ws wimping out on this issue, I have lost all respect for the man as a leader. Both girls where beautiful high school students at Waltrip High. The day of rage is coming though. jennifer ertman autopsy photos. The medical examiner later testified that this is how she could be sure as to the horrible brutality of the rapes, beatings and murders. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. Hiding. O'Brien was sentenced to die for murder of Randy's daughter Jennifer Ertman, 15, and Elizabeth Pea, 16, in 1993. 1 second ago. Jester as the community gathers at the same time of Cantu's execution. No one came to witness on Cantu's behalf when he received his lethal injection. Weve updated the security on the site. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Photos of Jennifer Lee Ertman - Find a Grave Memorial The scheduled execution of Medellin has attracted international attention after the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, said the Mexican-born Medellin and some 50 other Mexicans on death rows around the nation should have new hearings in U.S. courts to determine whether a 1963 treaty was violated with their arrests. The Ertmans and Penas gathered friends and neighbors to help them pass out a huge stack of fliers with the girls' pictures all over the Houston area, even giving them to newspaper vendors on the roadside. For justice. [44] Ertman had wanted to have Andy Kahan, the City of Houston's crime advocate, to witness the execution of Medelln. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1907733/posts, Death Penalty Case Puts Bush and Texas at Odds Over Mexicans Fate "We're looking forward to Peter Cantu being executed so he can never murder or hurt anybody again," he said. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. By approximately 10:30 p.m., Villarreal had successfully fought two gang members before being beaten midway through his fight with the third member. He hurt my friends and I didn't know and I cry a lot about not knowing. Sean Mitchell, 36, is surrounded by children Juliet, 4, Dominick, 5, and Brock Mitchell, 7, as they say a prayer at the memorial site for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena along T.C. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. Randy Ertman sits on the railroad tracks near the location where the bodies of two young women were found. At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. connor walsh death; king eurystheus physical appearance; jennifer ertman autopsy photos. According to trial testimony, both Pea and Ertman repeatedly glanced in the direction of one another several times throughout their ordeal in likely gestures of concern and despair. But after the execution Tuesday things were different. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, two teenage girls from Houston, Texas, aged 14 and 16, respectively, occurred on June 24, 1993. "You're not even an animal," in the courtroom of Judge Bill Harmon, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994. It worked. Jennifer's father made the drive here four years ago for the first execution. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. Venancio Medellin has been denied parole five times, most recently in November 2020. Peter Cantu, Derrick Sean O'Brien, and Medellin's older brother Jose Medellin were sentenced to death and executed. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1908103/posts, Bush, Texas at Odds Over Death Case One of the boys boasted of having 'virgin blood' on him. Venancio received a 40-year prison sentence. Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Peter Cantu, the leader of the gang, ordered the members to kill the girls. R.I.P to the both of them. 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. "[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. Testimony showed that the girls' bodies were kicked and their necks were stomped on after the strangulations in order to "make sure that they were really dead.". >> Please try again later. Failed to delete memorial. This was a crime on June 24th 1993. The Murders of Jennifer Ertman & Elizabth Pena Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, testified against 4 of the gang members. Turns out the friend I was with was a serial rapist. /OutputBin 7 The murder of Ertman and Pena made headlines all over Texas due to the heinous nature of the crime along with the new law that was put in place that allowed the families of the victims to view the execution of the murderers. You're welcome to hang with us anytime!" 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. Over the years, he lobbied for the right, along with Pena's parents, Kahan and the group Justice for All. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. at the time, got a 40-year sentence. >> Peter Cantu probably would've. 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. The community says a prayer at the memorial site for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. Derrick Sean O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl, and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. In July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. exemption for fair use of copyrighted works. Related linkssome have the same or similar titles but are different threads: Death Penalty Case Puts Bush and Texas at Odds Over Mexicans Fate If they hung all five of them, that would Seven minutes later, O'Brien was dead. Huntsville Unit prison. %%EOF Im listening to her (Laura Ingraham) right now. Jennifer Ertman's dad, Randy Ertman, was about to give an interview regarding the missing girls to a local television reporter when the call came over a cameraman's police scanner that two bodies had been found. Nine minutes later, he was dead. Since joining the Houston Chronicle staff in 1998, she has covered various beats, including criminal courts and transportation. >> What would I tell them? He told the call taker that the missing girls' bodies could be found near T.C. Those poor poor girls. Asked what memories she had of Ertman, Perez said, "She had a beautiful smile.". [n 2] According to trial testimony, both Pea and Ertman repeatedly glanced in the direction of one another several times throughout their ordeal in likely gestures of concern and despair. They also told police that both girls were raped by no less than two men simultaneously at all times. Money can't stop gangs. [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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Ertman's daughter Jennifer, 14, and her friend, 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, were attacked June 24, 1993, by gang members as they walked home along White Oak Bayou. He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2008, file photo, Adolfo Pena, from right, father of victim Elizabeth Pena, Randy Ertman, father of victim Jennifer Ertman, and Christina Alamaraz, friend of Jennifer Ertman, speak to the media after the execution of Mexican-born death row inmate Jose Medellin in Huntsville, Texas. I went to school with them. I saw hardened, lifelong cops get tears in their eyes when talking about the scene more than a year later. The two Houston girls, returning from a friend's house, took a shortcut home along some railroad tracks and stumbled on a group of teenagers drinking beer after initiating a new gang member. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. He was frustrated that he had been the one who was unable to fight Raul. Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. Ertman was catapulted into his advocacy role by the June 24, 1993, murders of his 14-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and her 16-year-old friend, Elizabeth Pena.