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. Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Huntsville Unit prison. 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. 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> Two Waltrip High School students had left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be home before their curfew. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. She then attempted to flee. "This was so senseless. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Look at me! Evidence showed Cantu kicked one of the girls in the face with his steel-toed boot. Add to your scrapbook. We have set your language to There was a problem getting your location. /Length 166 His stinging denunciation of Cantu, pain evident in each word, reached a climax when Cantu turned away from the grieving father and Ertman yelled, "You look at me! Three others have long prison terms. %PDF-1.3 I hope you rot in hell.". Elizabeth Pena's body was similarly . . Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. No one came to witness on Cantu's behalf when he received his lethal injection. curfew. Jester Park in northwest Houston. his arms, also apologized. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). We love them and miss them," Adolph Pena said. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Jennifer's father made the drive here four years ago for the first execution. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. 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. 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. 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. Jester Park. [11][n 1], Ertman could've easily run to escape at this point but ran to help her friend. Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. Please try again later. "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. [48] Another memorial exists at T.C. "[43], Randy Ertman, the father of Jennifer Ertman, died of lung cancer on August 18, 2014. Drag images here or select from your computer for Elizabeth Christine Pea memorial. /Rotate 0 Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding, and Prez had a bloody shirt. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. All Rights Reserved. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM This suggested a lurking evil, omnipresent and inchoate. The girls were grabbed, repeatedly raped, then strangled, beaten and stomped beyond recognition. Serious crime was still a problem, but the overall trends looked good. 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. interview with The Associated Press. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Try again later. startxref In July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories 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. As previously stated, Jennifer Louise Ertman who was born on August 15, 1978, and Elizabeth Christine Pena who was born on June 21, 1977 were both raped and killed on June 24, 1993. 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. O'Brien was one of six members of a fledgling street gang arrested in the slayings of Elizabeth Pena, 16,. [36] Governor Perry rejected calls from Mexico and Washington, DC, to delay the execution, citing the torture, rape, and strangulation of two teenaged girls in Houston 15 years ago as just cause for the death penalty. She was then forced to remove her underwear. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. [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. Because of their deaths, the state allows victim impact. In that case, a 27-year-old woman was found at a Houston park with her throat cut. In response, Cantu tackled and repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three teeth and fracturing several ribs. When the pair realized that they were going to be late returning home, they decided to leave the party to commit the curfew both had promised to their parents. /Resources << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << Notice: This memorial is being managed in abeyance until a proper manager requests control of the memorial. 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. The gang members stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. 0000000931 00000 n 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. Join us as we discuss this heinous attack. Jennifer Ertman's dad, Randy Ertman, was about to give an interview . The two were students of Waltrip High School. 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. 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. when they committed their crimes. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Ertman and Pea decided to take a 10-minute shortcut to Pea's residence in Oak Forest by following the railroad tracks and then passing through T.C. /O 74 0000009909 00000 n To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. [3], When the pair realized they were going to be late returning home, they decided to leave the party to conform to the curfew both had promised their parents. concluded that Jennifer Ertman died from trauma to the neck which could include strangulation. Home / Uncategorized / murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin [39] The lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m., and at 6:17p.m., Cantu was officially pronounced dead. Sadly, they never made it. The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities that he was a Mexican citizen. Shoelaces were used to strangle Pena. He then apologized to his family before being executed by lethal injection. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. The Texas parole board denied parole on several occasions to Venancio Medellin, most recently in 2020. The two were best friends and had a beautiful, long life ahead of them. 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. [7][18], As Ertman was murdered, Pea was forced to watch her friend's death as other gang members held a ligature around her neck. He will be the third of the attackers to be put to death, following, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob arrives, Oops! << Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. << Two of Cantu's companions in the gang they dubbed the Black and White preceded him to the death chamber. endobj 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. They were kicked, teeth knocked out and hair pulled out and ribs broken. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. By approximately 10:30 p.m., Villarreal had successfully fought two gang members before being beaten midway through his fight with the third member. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. This case galvanized the residents of Houston. Medelln gave both written and taped confessions. /ID [] /PageLayout /SinglePage They were both abducted and murdered. Somehow the story became worse at trial. /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 791 ] Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Randy Ertman's fiery red hair is gray, and now Cantu is dead. Elizabeth's father said he was not surprised. Jester Park.[43]. Venancio Medelln did rape Ertman on one occasion. Look at me good!". 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. Both had observed Pea and Ertmans' abduction, initial assault, and screams for help. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- T.C. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. endobj 0 He was sentenced under juvenile guidelines because he was 14 at the time of the crime. Please enter valid email address to continue. Ertman's daughter Jennifer, 14, and her friend, 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, were attacked June 24, 1993, by. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Resend Activation Email. 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. / CBS News. 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 Ertman will stand a few feet away, watching again through the window. Where [are] you going?" Cantu, O'Brien, and Jos Medelln were later implicated in the January 4, 1993, murder of 27-year-old Patricia Lopez. % I thought you might like to see a memorial for Elizabeth Christine Pea I found on Findagrave.com. Look, you're not even an animal," Ertman uttered in court. based on information from your browser. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 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. 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. /Filter /FlateDecode Thanks for your help! Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. . They were crossing a railroad bridge when the gang, drinking beer and initiating a new member, spotted them. 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. 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. "It's very, very rare that you can refer to a case by the victims' families and people will know what you're talking about," he said. 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. In response, Cantu repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three of her teeth and fracturing several ribs. "Assuming everything goes as we hope it goes on Tuesday, that chapter of that book for the Ertmans and Pe as will be forever done," said Andy Kahan, the former head of the Mayor's Crime Victims office, who now holds a similar position with the Houston Police Department. [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. During the trial, the Ertmans asked to address the court. based on information from your browser. He is now 41 and has served 27 years of his 40-year sentence. Ertman and Pea passed the gang and one member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. In July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, testified against 4 of the gang members. Add to your scrapbook. 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. Ertman rejected an invitation from Cantu's lawyer to come to his office and read a letter of apology from Cantu. 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. 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. Learn more about merges. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. 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. 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. One night the words turned into acts. 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. Kahan assisted the girl's parents in changing state policy to allow relatives of victims to witness executions. Blame the Federal Reserve. The families of both Ertman and Pea strongly favored the execution(s). Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. 0000004381 00000 n 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. For justice for my little girl," Elizabeth's father, Adolph Pena, said. The case was also notable in that the state of Texas rejected attempts by the International Court of Justice to halt the executions of several of the perpetrators. This account has been disabled. [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. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. [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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. She and her friend Elizabeth were students at Waltrip High School in Houston. 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