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. This account has been disabled. /S 280 All Rights Reserved. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murders. 1 of 3 Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. In what police later would describe as a sadistic frenzy, the girls were gang-raped for more than an hour. 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". [34] In 2004, the International Court of Justice responded to a lawsuit filed by Mexico against the United States; the court ordered hearings to be held for inmates, including Medelln, who were denied consular rights. TDCJ refused to permit Kahan to witness the execution. In June of 1993, the two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. This is what happened to 14 year old Jennifer Ertman and 16 year old Elizabeth Pea. involvement "the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life." /PageLayout /SinglePage https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. The Texas parole board denied parole on several occasions to Venancio Medellin, most recently in 2020. There was an error deleting this problem. The bodies were able to be identified by their dental records. 0000006863 00000 n [21], Peter Cantu then returned and divided the valuables that had been stolen from the girls. August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM [22], Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. The gang was arrested. 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. %PDF-1.3 << Home / Uncategorized / murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7051821/jennifer-lee-ertman. [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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Please reset your password. Jester Park. 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. 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. O'Brien was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal drugs began. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Medellin has been denied parole five times now. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Please reset your password. In: Mangino, Matthew T. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 03:48. "I miss them and I love them, and they'll never be forgotten and I'll try to keep their memories alive as best as I can," friend Christina Almarez said. "Nothing he would say to me would make any difference," he said. They were both abducted and murdered. Court appeals to delay the punishment appeared exhausted. ). 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." The architect of their deaths will pay with his own life Tuesday evening. On a June night, the two girls were hoping to beat an 11:30 p.m. curfew by taking a shortcut home to Pena's northwest Houston neighborhood. 88 0 obj [40], Cantu, Medelln, and O'Brien are buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. This case galvanized the residents of Houston. Oops, we were unable to send the email. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died. /Type /Catalog the U.S. Supreme Court barred execution of people who were under 18 /T 62444 The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities he was a Mexican citizen. She was then forced to remove her underwear. 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. This is a carousel with slides. But after the execution Tuesday things were different. [5], Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57p.m. on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. endstream The worst crime I have ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old . Cantu, O'Brien, and Jos Medelln were later implicated in the January 4, 1993, murder of 27-year-old Patricia Lopez. He then apologized to his family before being executed by lethal injection. 0000004381 00000 n Where [are] you going?" They expressed no regret or even a second thought at what they had done. He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. She screamed. On the night of June 24, 1993 -. At home, nothing appeared to constrain him. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. Elizabeth Christine Pea (June 21, 1977 June 24, 1993) and Jennifer Lee Ertman (August 15, 1978 June 24, 1993) were close friends who both attended Waltrip High School. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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. Elizabeth's father said he was not surprised. What would I tell them? Search above to list available cemeteries. cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 0000003012 00000 n 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. There was a problem getting your location. Add to your scrapbook. Jester Park in order to make an 11:30 curfew. Ertman could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. Six teenagers repeatedly raped, assaulted, then beat the girls to death, beyond recognition. You're welcome to hang with us anytime!" Your Scrapbook is currently empty. For justice for my little girl," Elizabeth's father, Adolph Pena, said. He was 35 and had lived on death row longer than his victims were alive. 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. [39] The lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m., and at 6:17p.m., Cantu was officially pronounced dead. Both girls were strangled to death. AN ORGY OF VIOLENCE At first, the teenage boys grabbed Elizabeth, while Jennifer escaped. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Elizabeth Pea (left) and Jennifer Ertman (right), Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea. "I told him to stick it. Join us as we discuss this heinous attack. [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. endobj Look at me good!". Verify and try again. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. This suggested a lurking evil, omnipresent and inchoate. 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. In response, Cantu tackled and repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three teeth and fracturing several ribs. "It's been a long journey, and for the families an emotional roller coaster.". 0000004107 00000 n Even the police were stunned. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Consider that their case wasn't known by the names of their killers, but their names, and that those who loved them will tell you is as it should be. "Why do I watch? Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. You're not even an animal. He was sentenced under juvenile guidelines because he was 14 at the time of the crime. Learn more about merges. Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. "It's a little late," Ertman said. 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. Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea to be killed so they couldn't identify their attackers. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Jester Park. Then again, no one has forgotten much of anything about those murders. The teens were killed in TC Jester Park as part of a gang initiation Ertman Pena Fol. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. She was then forced to remove her underwear. "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. "Hopefully they'll find some peace. >> Notice: This memorial is being managed in abeyance until a proper manager requests control of the memorial. "Anytime girls came down the street, they'd come out and hoot and holler at them and make vulgar remarks to them," a former neighbor said the day after his arrest. "This is. to Ertman. Both had observed Pea and Ertmans' abduction, initial assault, and screams for help. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. The case forced a change in state police. /Length 166 Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. 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. 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. Five of the gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an hour. But Elizabeth's desperate cries brought Jennifer back to help her best friend. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. [5][30], Before his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. On Friday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles refused his clemency petition. 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. "Most people know it from the defendant's name. 0000009638 00000 n or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. To use this feature, use a newer browser. "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. [2], At 4:15 p.m. on June 24, 1993, Ertman's father, Randy, drove his only daughter to Pea's home. 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. Cantu had been troubled and violent since his early youth. Failed to delete memorial. Add to your scrapbook. Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . 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. This was something more than the danger inherent in big-city life. 72 0 obj Learn more about managing a memorial . According to later testimony, on one occasion, Pea glanced in the direction of her younger friend as she herself was raped by Efrain Prez and began weeping as she observed Ertman. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announcement on Saturday, Nov. 14. Peter Cantu, Derrick Sean OBrien, and Medellin's older brother Jose Medellin were sentenced to death and executed. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Please try again later. In August 2008, Ertman again climbed the steps to the red-bricked 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. 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.". Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were 14 and 16 years old, respectively. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Elizabeth Christine Pea I found on Findagrave.com. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. For the families, it is a fight they will take beyond the grave. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Ertman, however, doesn't agree with that viewpoint. 0000000809 00000 n Please enter your email and password to sign in. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. There is a problem with your email/password. No one came to witness on Cantu's behalf when he received his lethal injection. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Then, on the morning of June 30, the city awoke to learn of events of a few days earlier that defied belief. 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. 3 of the main members who were 18 or over were sentenced to death and it was carried out 2006,2008,2010 respectively. at the time, got a 40-year sentence. AP. He threatened to kill security guards at the alternative school he periodically attended. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. 73 0 obj By coincidence, a handful of teenagers who had just completed a boozy, fight-filled gang initiation ritual noticed their shadowy figures. Of anything about those murders this point, but ran to help her friend an ORGY of VIOLENCE first! The gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an.... 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