Learn more about merges. A tip led authorities to the bodies. 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. to Ertman. Villarreal then sat alongside the other gang members, relaxing, talking, trading insults and compliments, and drinking beer. When Elizabeth and Jenny reached a bayou near a. Sorry! For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities he was a Mexican citizen. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. /Filter /FlateDecode In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! [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. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak. 0000000931 00000 n There was an error deleting this problem. >> [5] This location was approximately one mile from Pea's home. Make sure that the file is a photo. murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [5] Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, "Get on your knees, bitch!" Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Look at me! Failed to report flower. [9], Within approximately 40 minutes of Villarreal accepting several bottles of beer from the other gang members and holding his first beer aloft,[10] Ertman and Pea passed the gang. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. "Peter A. Cantu, Texas Executed August 17" (Chapter 35). 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. All of it - the entire ugly tableau of human destruction - was told as if it had been a TV rerun from a year ago. Please enter valid email address to continue. 0000007142 00000 n Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. I ain't ever gonna hear that again, that hurts," said Randy Ertman, the victim's father. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. [7] Prez will become eligible for parole on October 10, 2029, while Villarreal will become eligible for parole on September 20, 2029.[27][28]. No one came to witness on Cantu's behalf when he received his lethal injection. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Year should not be greater than current year. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder. 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. >> Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Thanks for your help! Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Peter Cantu, the leader of the gang, ordered the members to kill the girls. Try again later. Four days later, when searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, their bodies were unrecognizable. [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. "He has matured remarkably," said Robin Norris, his appeals lawyer. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. The two were best friends and had a beautiful, long life ahead of them. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. Their bodies were found four days after they were murdered. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Cantu has been on death row longer than his victims were alive. 0000008255 00000 n There is a problem with your email/password. Dude, you're a badass! Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. When the police followed this suggestion, they found the badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Elizabeth. 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. 25 years after the murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. 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." [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. "It's been a long journey, and for the families an emotional roller coaster.". This suggested a lurking evil, omnipresent and inchoate. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E," so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. [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. On death row, Cantu, now 35, was classified among the best-behaving inmates. "We're looking forward to Peter Cantu being executed so he can never murder or hurt anybody again," he said. /Type /Page Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. They were crossing a railroad bridge when the gang, drinking beer and initiating a new member, spotted them. Huntsville Unit prison. Jester Park in northwest Houston. 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.' "Most people know it from the defendant's name. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. 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. This is a carousel with slides. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cantu, then 18, orchestrated the attacks and slaying. He made a promise to their families. The gang members stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Houston was stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. He was 35 and had lived on death row longer than his victims were alive. xref 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. [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. You're not even an animal. He received a 40-year prison sentence, the maximum for a juvenile, for the sexual assault of Jennifer Ertman. /L 64011 [4], Ertman and Pea decided to take a 10-minute shortcut to Pea's residence in Oak Forest by following the railroad tracks and passing through T.C. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. 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 1993. "This is. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. 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. Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. "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. The two were students of Waltrip High School. xc```b``^dL`c@ >f(T0Fk^350QxA]gY=kfNy-3&00xLd$OexQ8 9L-K~p800.m``:Q *R One of the gang members grabbed Pena. 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. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls. The gang members then stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. Cantu's mother, sometimes absent, appeared unconcerned when school officials or authorities showed up to discuss his behavior. O'Brien was one of six members of a fledgling street gang arrested in the slayings of Elizabeth Pena, 16,. Kahan, who had become close to the families, said Ertman's bellicose rebuke was an inevitable culmination of eight exhausting months and five trials filled with gruesome details of his daughter's death. [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. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. "Jenny and Elizabeth were everybody's daughters," said Kahan. Even the police were stunned. The annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is no fun and games if you don't have a ticket. 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. In that case, a 27-year-old woman was found at a Houston park with her throat cut. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [6], 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. In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 0000009909 00000 n A system error has occurred. When he finally faced death, Cantu made no apology and had no statement. "I don't mean this in a gruesome Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Make sure that the file is a photo. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. /O 74 /E 11282 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. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. All those believed responsible were ultimately arrested. [16], Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Cantu[17] ordered the members to kill the girls. Both victims were badly decaying, and dental records were used for identification. 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. >> << "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. Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . Failed to delete memorial. Ertman could have easily run to escape at this point, but ran to help her friend. 72 0 obj /Size 89 The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities that he was a Mexican citizen. Jennifer Ertman also had three fractured ribs. "Hopefully they'll find some peace. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. 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. Both girls were strangled to death. Both had observed Pea and Ertmans' abduction, initial assault, and screams for help. 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. trailer Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jennifer Ertman (7051821)? Jennifer Ertman's dad, Randy Ertman, was about to give an interview . To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Jester Park. . Follow Deborah Wrigley on Facebook and Twitter. /Rotate 0 Two Innocent Teens The crime was unspeakable. O'Brien was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal drugs began. They expressed no regret or even a second thought at what they had done. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died.". Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. 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. If it could show up at such a nondescript moment - teenagers unknown to each other passing in the night - perhaps no one's safety was more than an illusion. 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