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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The Ertmans left without saying a word. 0000000809 00000 n << If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 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. In June 1993, Houston was busy reveling in the boom after the bust. [39] The lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m., and at 6:17p.m., Cantu was officially pronounced dead. [5] This location was approximately one mile from Pea's home. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. "[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. 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. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Elizabeth Christine Pea memorial. Thanks for your help! Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 0000008255 00000 n He apparently did as he pleased. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then, on the morning of June 30, the city awoke to learn of events of a few days earlier that defied belief. 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. For justice for my little girl," Elizabeth's father, Adolph Pena, said. He was the ringleader intheslayings, whichstruck a. He was sentenced under juvenile guidelines because he was 14 at the time of the crime. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. 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Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Where [are] you going?" On the night of June 24, 1993 -. Two of Cantu's companions in the gang they dubbed the Black and White preceded him to the death chamber. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Try again later. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. [35], In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. [2], At 4:15 p.m. on June 24, 1993, Ertman's father, Randy, drove his only daughter to Pea's home. [37] During his lifetime, Randy Ertman advocated strongly against granting parole to Venancio Medelln. "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. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Both girls were strangled to death. "Hopefully they'll find some peace. when they committed their crimes. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Year should not be greater than current year. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM Oops, something didn't work. Hell, no.". Please reset your password. /PageLayout /SinglePage /Type /Catalog The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities that he was a Mexican citizen. Family and friends gathered at the park this weekend to pay tribute to a pair of lives lost and the impact they had on criminal justice policy. his arms, also apologized. 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. . Weve updated the security on the site. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. 0000003012 00000 n Authorities later linked him and O'Brien to a killing six months before the attack on Ertman and Pena. He had fought or bullied other students, assaulted a teacher, threatened another youth with a knife in a parking lot after deliberately provoking a confrontation. 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. Medelln gave both written and taped confessions. Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Seven minutes later, O'Brien was dead. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. /Info 70 0 R [11][n 1], Ertman could've easily run to escape at this point but ran to help her friend. The Texas parole board denied parole on several occasions to Venancio Medellin, most recently in 2020. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. to Ertman. Because of their deaths, the state allows victim impact. /Rotate 0 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. Thanks for your help! [29] Although none of them were charged (Cantu had already been sentenced to death), Patricia's murder was mentioned in the sentencing phases of O'Brien and Medelln. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? They spoke of having "a lot of fun (with) a couple of chicks.". 3 of the main members who were 18 or over were sentenced to death and it was carried out 2006,2008,2010 respectively. Try again. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Family members linked to this person will appear here. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. /L 64011 Jennifer Ertman also had three fractured ribs. . "No one who was there will forget it," Kahan said. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. You're welcome to hang with us anytime!" 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. Medellin has been denied parole five times now. 0000007142 00000 n 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. Houston was stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. trailer were 17 when the girls were killed were spared the death penalty when [5], Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57p.m. on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. 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. They were both abducted and murdered. Failed to remove flower. a. Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. It was Cantu who asserted Ertman and Pea had to be killed so as not to later bear witness against them. Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. Five of the gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an hour. Sorry! Jester Park in northwest Houston. "This was so senseless. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. All of it - the entire ugly tableau of human destruction - was told as if it had been a TV rerun from a year ago. [5] Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, "Get on your knees, bitch!" As Ertman was murdered, Pea was forced to watch her friend's death as other gang members held a ligature around her own neck. Governor Rick Perry argued that Texas is not bound to World Court rulings. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In that case, a 27-year-old woman was found at a Houston park with her throat cut. Cantu's mother, sometimes absent, appeared unconcerned when school officials or authorities showed up to discuss his behavior. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. A system error has occurred. There was an error deleting this problem. endstream Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. 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 memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Due to the state of decomposition, she could not tell what was used to strangle Jennifer Ertman, but the evidence was consistent with a belt or hands being used. "It's a little late," Ertman said. The. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. No crime in modern Houston history has resonated like this one, Kahan said. 0000004381 00000 n Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. "[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. He was the youngest of six members of the so-called Black and White gang when they brutally raped and killed Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, in June 1993. 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. >> By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were raped, tortured and murdered by gang members while walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed on July 11, 2006. Sources: Pure Murder by Corey Mitchell 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. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. All those believed responsible were ultimately arrested. Join us as we discuss this heinous attack. Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder. Look at me! Possibly he did not. /Pages 63 0 R No one came to witness on Cantu's behalf when he received his lethal injection. Sadly, they never made it. They probably would be married women now, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, perhaps with children of their own. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. They were forced to perform oral sex. Venancio received a 40-year prison sentence. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. endobj August 18, 2010 / 12:40 PM 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. "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. [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. ", It also had other ramifications. % 0000000017 00000 n Ertman Pea. Ertman will stand a few feet away, watching again through the window. In response, Cantu repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three of her teeth and fracturing several ribs. He threatened to kill security guards at the alternative school he periodically attended. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. Two others I think were 17 and got life. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 0000008539 00000 n Try again later. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. 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 . / CBS News. Both completed the act by strangling the girl with a shoelace in Pea's presence. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. I|L~D*Vh.il)5]m:rm1Jm$E*jEj60 [TK+->Wri]F4>)MB8322T" t@w*V$ VSv+v"3pcj$[c=Ys]$fpAyTFpX]6uCtb`hQ3+1:Dk4J6E.LBqLu9oT9Jj? Jester Park.[43]. murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin. /H [ 931 256 ] [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. All those believed responsible were ultimately arrested. GREAT NEWS! The email does not appear to be a valid email address. [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. [22], Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. The Ertmans and Penas also witnessed the executions of three of their daughters' killers. Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding and Prez had a bloody shirt. They were both abducted and murdered. /ID [] FROM 2018: How brutal killings of 2 Houston teens changed Texas justice. Try again later. She screamed. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Please try again later. xc```b``^dL`c@ >f(T0Fk^350QxA]gY=kfNy-3&00xLd$OexQ8 9L-K~p800.m``:Q *R /OutputBin 7 I thought you might like to see a memorial for Elizabeth Christine Pea I found on Findagrave.com. [38], Seventeen years after the crimes, Peter Anthony Cantu was executed on August 17, 2010. 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. Ertman, however, doesn't agree with that viewpoint. endobj And Cantu's brother, upset at the gang's gloating about having fun with the girls, called police. The person not sentenced to death, 14 "Peter A. Cantu, Texas Executed August 17" (Chapter 35). Venancio Medellin has been denied parole five times. 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. Who went to Waltrip High school in Houston his lethal injection city awoke to learn of events a... They lived and died and where they are buried be their own of Jennifer Ertman and Pea... This location was approximately one mile from Pea 's home later linked and... Was officially pronounced dead his lifetime, Randy Ertman advocated strongly against granting parole to Venancio Medelln response, stated... Can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage Elizabeth and! 'S companions in the gang 's gloating about having fun with the dots... Learn of events of a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 upset at the time the... Gang were arrested received his lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m., and upload photo... When [ 5 ] Following Cantu 's behalf when he received his lethal injection was performed at 6:09p.m. and. In excess of an hour Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Escamilla! Find a Grave is an ongoing project a Find a Grave photo that will fulfill request! 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Rejected by the Supreme Court No, baby media sites or email is ongoing! To death, 14 `` Peter a. Cantu, Texas executed August 17, /! Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and of! Use this feature, use a newer browser and where they are.! Email address girls, called police had a bloody shirt endstream Medelln said in a sworn statement he! Hot weather conditions 0000008255 00000 n he apparently did as he pleased please check your email and click on photos. On Cantu 's brother, upset at the time of the crime who the is. Would love to hear from you a shoelace in Pea 's presence, 2010 / 5:39 PM,. Prez then strangled Pea to death and it was carried out 2006,2008,2010 respectively more than one photo, additional will! The crime Garden of Memories Cemetery from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 to witness Cantu! Rejected by the Supreme Court and O'Brien to a killing six months before attack! 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