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. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. 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. On Friday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles refused his clemency petition. They should have hung them. /Type /Catalog You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. C.E. 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". [39] The lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m., and at 6:17p.m., Cantu was officially pronounced dead. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. This is a carousel. [7], Villarreal had not been a member of the Black and White gang or any gang but had engaged in this initiation ceremony whereby he had been forced to fight several gang members for five minutes successively before they judged whether to accept him. When Elizabeth and Jenny reached a bayou near a. [8], Minutes later, the leader of the gang, Peter Cantu, approached Villarreal, exclaiming: "You're in! [37] During his lifetime, Randy Ertman advocated strongly against granting parole to Venancio Medelln. AN ORGY OF VIOLENCE At first, the teenage boys grabbed Elizabeth, while Jennifer escaped. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. "This was so senseless. /Linearized 1 For justice for my little girl," Elizabeth's father, Adolph Pena, said. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. /Root 73 0 R 0000009638 00000 n 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. /ID [] Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murders. He received a 40-year prison sentence, the maximum for a juvenile, for the sexual assault of Jennifer Ertman. O'Brien was one of six members of a fledgling street gang arrested in the slayings of Elizabeth Pena, 16,. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. /Pages 63 0 R "Jenny and Elizabeth were everybody's daughters," said Kahan. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. RELATED:Fighting for victims: Randy Ertman's fight continues after his passing. "[31], 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. 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. "He should have been hung outside the courthouse," Ertman said in an TDCJ refused to permit Kahan to witness the execution. startxref All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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 . Two Innocent Teens The crime was unspeakable. 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. Because of their deaths, the state allows victim impact statements and Randy Ertman was the first to do it when he confronted the six convicted killers in court, all of them sentenced to death. based on information from your browser. 25 years after the murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. to Ertman. endobj The execution of, Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. 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. 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. 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. AP. 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 Pea 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 everyones sake, Ogg said. The graves of Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. "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. Look at me! The case was also notable in that the state of Texas rejected attempts by the International Court of Justice to halt several perpetrators' executions. They were both abducted and murdered. She and her friend Elizabeth were students at Waltrip High School in Houston. GREAT NEWS! 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. Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57 pm on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. This browser does not support getting your location. They were forced to perform oral sex. He made a promise to their families. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [40], Cantu, Medelln, and O'Brien are buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. Jester Park. Ertman rejected an invitation from Cantu's lawyer to come to his office and read a letter of apology from Cantu. >> Jobs were back and property was rising in value. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. On death row, Cantu, now 35, was classified among the best-behaving inmates. All Rights Reserved. Sadly, they never made it. 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. On the night of June 24, 1993 -. >> Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. Court appeals to delay the punishment appeared exhausted. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 0000004107 00000 n Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. A month before Ertman and Pe a crossed his path, Cantu had mentioned to his former auto mechanics teacher that he wanted to kill someone "just to see what it feels like," according to testimony. "Look at me. As Ertman was murdered, Pea was forced to watch her friend's death as other gang members held a ligature around her own neck. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. 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. "It's been a long journey, and for the families an emotional roller coaster.". If you're planning on using the METRO to helo you get to and from the Houston Rodeo, here's everything you need to plan out your ride! Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Although only one of the brothers had fought Villarreal, both had left the initiation ceremony minutes before both girls were abducted. A red nylon belt, with an attacker tugging at each end, was pulled so tightly around Ertman's neck the belt snapped. Cantu has been on death row longer than his victims were alive. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. Serious crime was still a problem, but the overall trends looked good. [5][30], Before his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings, was released in 2008 and became a best seller. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jennifer Lee Ertman I found on Findagrave.com. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. / CBS News. Venancio Medellin was 14 at the time of the killings and is serving a 40-year prison term. [35], In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. . 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. If they hung all five of them, that would 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. In August 2008, Ertman again climbed the steps to the red-bricked This location was approximately one mile from Pea's home. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! [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. cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. What would I tell them? "No one who was there will forget it," Kahan said. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. To use this feature, use a newer browser. /Filter /FlateDecode Peter Anthony Cantu, Jos Ernesto Medelln, Derrick Sean O'Brien, Efrain Prez, and Raul Omar Villarreal received death sentences. to Ertman. After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to police. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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. Jester Park. [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. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. But when you go around and ask anybody in the city of Houston, do you remember the Ertman/Pe a case, they will immediately say, 'Yes, the two girls who were gang-raped and brutally killed.' Both completed the act by strangling the girl with a shoelace in Pea's presence. ). "[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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. Both victims were badly decaying, and dental records were used for identification. Then, on the morning of June 30, the city awoke to learn of events of a few days earlier that defied belief. On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. stream Both then completed the act by strangling the girl with a shoelace in Pea's presence. /N 31 If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E," so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. The families of both Ertman and Pea strongly favored the execution(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. In response, Cantu repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three of her teeth and fracturing several ribs. All of it - the entire ugly tableau of human destruction - was told as if it had been a TV rerun from a year ago. 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. Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. 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. Seventeen years after the crimes, Peter Anthony Cantu was executed on August 17, 2010. Instead of remorse there was violence from Cantu. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. Five others were convicted of capital murder in the case. Try again later. 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. HUNTSVILLE, Texas --The State of Texas executed Peter Cantu Tuesday evening for the brutal murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The 2008 execution of one of the perpetrators, Jos Medelln . Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were raped, tortured and murdered by gang members while walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. This is a carousel with slides. 0000001544 00000 n Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. 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. Their bodies were found four days later. The girls were raped and murdered by the gang members in a field near T.C. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. Jennifer Ertman's dad, Randy Ertman, was about to give an interview . Then again, no one has forgotten much of anything about those murders. 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. /Rotate 0 were 17 when the girls were killed were spared the death penalty when Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. She then attempted to flee. << Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, testified against 4 of the gang members. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. >> Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. /H [ 931 256 ] Try again later. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 75 0 obj Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Look, you're not even an animal," Ertman uttered in court. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! This account has been disabled. 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