>> You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Thanks for your help! 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. An Orgy Of Violence At first, the teenage boys grabbed Elizabeth, while . >> Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. She was then forced to remove her underwear. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. /Type /Catalog Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Two Waltrip High School students had left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be home before their curfew. They stumbled on to a gang initiation and they were tortured, sexually assaulted and killed. [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. 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. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. C.E. When the police followed this suggestion, they found the badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Elizabeth. "Why do I watch? This is a carousel with slides. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7051821/jennifer-lee-ertman. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Their bodies were found four days later. /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 791 ] 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. Their killers were soon rounded upa brutal, unrepentant gang of teenage boys whose convictions should have put them behind bars for life. 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. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. August 17, 2010 - Peter Anthony Cantu Execution: Mastermind of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murders to Die. On the night of 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. Then, on the morning of June 30, the city awoke to learn of events of a few days earlier that defied belief. 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. 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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Elizabeth's father said he was not surprised. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announcement on Saturday, Nov. 14. [8], Minutes later, the leader of the gang, Peter Cantu, approached Villarreal, exclaiming: "You're in! You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. The lethal injection was performed at 6:09 p.m. By 6:17 p.m. Cantu was pronounced dead. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). /Prev 62433 Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. Blame the Federal Reserve. Ogg personally signed a letter to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole protesting any possible release earlier this year. The attackers shouted obscenities at TV cameras when they were arrested and reportedly bragged of their crimes once in their jail cells. Learn more about managing a memorial . A tip led authorities to the bodies. Ertman rejected an invitation from Cantu's lawyer to come to his office and read a letter of apology from Cantu. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. The death sentences of Efrain Prez and Raul Villarreal were commuted to life imprisonment in 2005, following, List of people executed in Texas, 20002009, List of people executed in Texas, 20102019, List of people executed in the United States in 2006, List of people executed in the United States in 2010, "Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murdered While Walking Near Houston Park 25 Years Ago", "Peter Anthony Cantu Execution: Mastermind of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murders to Die Tonight", "Medellin set to die Tuesday for Ertman-Pea killings", "Medellin executed for rape, murder of Houston teens", Murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, "Bodies of Two Girls Discovered: Grim Find Ends Weekend Search in Northwest Houston", "Father of Murdered Girl Questions Bush's Support to Halt Killer's Execution", "Media Advisory: Jose Medellin Scheduled For Execution", "San Antonio turned from bully to savage killer", "Jos Ernesto Medelln v. Texas (Per Curiam)", "Texas Executes Mexican Despite Objections", "Dad confronts parole board to keep daughter's murderer in prison", "Ex-gang leader executed for '93 deaths of 2 Houston girls", "Last Statement Derrick O'Brien" at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice profile, "Father of Brutally Murdered Teen, victims' Rights Advocate Randy Ertman Dead at 61", Victim's "Advocate Won't be Witnessing Execution", "Parole Denied for Gang Member Convicted in 1993 Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena", In Memory of Elizabeth Pea and Jennifer Ertman - 1993, Details of Cantu's 1997 appeal against his convictions, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Jennifer_Ertman_and_Elizabeth_Pea&oldid=1137725274. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. Weve updated the security on the site. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! 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. 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. /Info 70 0 R One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. [5][30], Before his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. Their photos are familiar now, attached to countless news reports since then: the same two pictures, teen girls who despite the makeup were girls still. But not until an anonymous 911 call four days later were the bodies of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena finally recovered. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. "Jenny and Elizabeth were everybody's daughters," said Kahan. [40], Cantu, Medelln, and O'Brien are buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. In fact, they laughed and joked as they divvied up the pitiful spoils of the evening: a small amount of cash, some inexpensive rings and gold chains. "[43], Randy Ertman, the father of Jennifer Ertman, died of lung cancer on August 18, 2014. An angry Randy Ertman stood at the trial and told the killers: "We live for the day you die. 0000004107 00000 n At first, Pea desperately attempted to appease her abusers as she wept; offering to provide her phone number in order that they could "get together". /Length 1385 Three others have long prison terms. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 75 0 obj Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. When the teacher told Cantu the trouble he would get into for such a thing, he said he didn't care. He then elaborated that he had raped both girls. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E", so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" Learn more about merges. In June of 1993, the two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou. Peter Anthony Cantu, Jos Ernesto Medelln, Derrick Sean O'Brien, Efrain Prez, and Raul Omar Villarreal received death sentences. /PageLayout /SinglePage On death row, Cantu, now 35, was classified among the best-behaving inmates. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. % 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. By coincidence, a handful of teenagers who had just completed a boozy, fight-filled gang initiation ritual noticed their shadowy figures. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? endobj As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Ertman could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend. "Peter A. Cantu, Texas Executed August 17" (Chapter 35). 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. There are multiple parking options available for those looking to attend the Houston Rodeo. ", Death near for Ertman-Pea killer, but crime still shakes Houston. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. trailer Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. endstream Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. To save time, they took a shortcut that led along railroad tracks near T.C. << Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murders. Randy Ertman's fiery red hair is gray, and now Cantu is dead. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Search above to list available cemeteries. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. As a general rule, immediate family members, grandparents, and other close family members can request and will be transferred management of the memorial. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings of Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman, was released in 2008 and became a best seller.Notice: This memorial is being managed in abeyance until a proper manager requests control of the memorial. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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. when they committed their crimes. I hope you rot in hell.". cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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 will be the third of the attackers to be put to death, following Derrick O'Brien and Jose Medellin. Cantu had been troubled and violent since his early youth. 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. A red nylon belt, with an attacker tugging at each end, was pulled so tightly around Ertman's neck the belt snapped. Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57 pm on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. Three of the Pena and Ertman killers have been executed. 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. << Their deaths resulted in an outpouring of grief in the local community and spurred changes in criminal legislation in the state of Texas, which enabled the families of crime victims to speak to the defendant at trial and witness the execution of said defendant. Derrick O'Brien, belted to a gurney, looked through the death chamber /Rotate 0 Medellin has been denied parole five times now. Two others I think were 17 and got life. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Elizabeth Pea (7053887)? Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 0000008255 00000 n AN ORGY OF VIOLENCE At first, the teenage boys grabbed Elizabeth, while Jennifer escaped. Their photos are familiar now, attached to countless news reports since then: the same two pictures, teen girls who despite the makeup were girls still. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. /Contents [ 75 0 R ] This case galvanized the residents of Houston. / CBS News. 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/Dept. Venancio Medelln did rape Ertman on one occasion. New development was everywhere, spurred by a mayor and city council devoted to the cause of building. [35], In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. He was 35 and had lived on death row longer than his victims were alive. 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. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Both girls were strangled to death. "This is. [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. Elizabeth Christine Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. People normally immune to the shock of another murder were stunned by the savagery of what happened on a moonless muggy night along the banks of White Oak Bayou. The killers didn't crumple or cry when recounting the bestiality of their acts to investigators. Jester Park. The architect of their deaths will pay with his own life Tuesday evening. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. The case spurred legislative reform in Texas' criminal justice system. Possibly he did not. In July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. Please enter valid email address to continue. /H [ 931 256 ] 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. They were forced to perform oral sex. The Ertmans left without saying a word. /ID [] synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. First published on August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM. He made a promise to their families. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder. 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. %%EOF Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. English %PDF-1.3 The teens were killed in TC Jester Park as part of a gang initiation Ertman Pena Fol. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Their bodies were found four days later. >> When the Supreme Court of the United States banned the executions of people who committed crimes while they were below 18 years of age, the sentences of Prez and Villarreal were automatically commuted to life in prison. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He received a 40-year prison sentence, the maximum for a juvenile, for the sexual assault of Jennifer Ertman. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He was the ringleader intheslayings, whichstruck a. The gang members then stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Try again later. The gang was arrested. "Venancio Medellin was spared from a death sentence because of his age when he helped five other gang members rape, strangle and stomp Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena to death on a hot summer night in Houston in 1993, but he should spend every day of the rest of his sentence locked up for everyone's sake," District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. Jobs were back and property was rising in value. 0000001187 00000 n Family members linked to this person will appear here. [48] Another memorial exists at T.C. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin. 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. Somehow the story became worse at trial. to Ertman. He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. This is a carousel with slides. He apparently did as he pleased. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. We have set your language to The annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is no fun and games if you don't have a ticket. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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