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. The attackers shouted obscenities at TV cameras when they were arrested and reportedly bragged of their crimes once in their jail cells. As Ertman was murdered, Pea was forced to watch her friend's death as other gang members held a ligature around her own neck. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. at the time, got a 40-year sentence. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Please enter your email and password to sign in. AN ORGY OF VIOLENCE At first, the teenage boys grabbed Elizabeth, while Jennifer escaped. [16], Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Cantu[17] ordered the members to kill the girls. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The Ertmans left without saying a word. A system error has occurred. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died. 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. . Put a needle in her arm and just go to sleep. By the end of Cantu's trial, jurors had been burdened with a load of disturbing details, not just about the crime itself, which prosecutor Donna Goode likened to the work of a "pack of wild dogs," but about the young man who made it happen. When the police followed this suggestion, they found the badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Elizabeth. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. This suggested a lurking evil, omnipresent and inchoate. Jester Park. Prior to 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. He apparently did as he pleased. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Family members are now allowed to address the convicted, and victims' families now have the choice and right to view. When he finally faced death, Cantu made no apology and had no statement. Jos Medelln got a ring with an "E", so he could give it to his girlfriend, Esther. /Filter /FlateDecode As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Pea brushed aside Medelln's hand and continued walking. 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. One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Kahan assisted the girl's parents in changing state policy to allow relatives of victims to witness executions. They are both buried at Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. Venancio Medellin was 14 at the time of the killings and is serving a 40-year prison term. [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. interview with The Associated Press. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. This was something more than the danger inherent in big-city life. Nine minutes later, he was dead. 0000011007 00000 n "[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. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> 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. 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. At first, Pea desperately attempted to appease her abusers as she wept; offering to provide her phone number in order that they could "get together". 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. 0000004107 00000 n a, perhaps with children of their own. The two were students of Waltrip High School. 0000000017 00000 n Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. On death row, Cantu, now 35, was classified among the best-behaving inmates. [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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. endobj The graves of Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. As a general rule, immediate family members, grandparents, and other close family members can request and will be transferred management of the memorial. Their bodies were found four days after they were murdered. >> Their bodies were found four days later. Thanks for your help! The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities he was a Mexican citizen. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The lethal injection was performed at 6:09 pm, and at 6:17 pm, Cantu was officially pronounced dead. 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. be a deterrent.". IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. 75 0 obj In June of 1993, the two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou. were 17 when the girls were killed were spared the death penalty when You have chosen this person to be their own family member. GREAT NEWS! Both had observed Pea and Ertmans' abduction, initial assault, and screams for help. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? [37] During his lifetime, Randy Ertman advocated strongly against granting parole to Venancio Medelln. ", It also had other ramifications. << 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. [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. "This was so senseless. Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls. Wage growth is slowing. In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. Two Waltrip High School students had left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be home before their curfew. In what police later would describe as a sadistic frenzy, the girls were gang-raped for more than an hour. C.E. Huntsville Unit prison. Court appeals to delay the punishment appeared exhausted. 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. It was a case that shaped Andy Kahan as the newly-appointed crime victim's advocate for the city. Houston was stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. Even the police were stunned. Four days later, when searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, their bodies were unrecognizable. /Rotate 0 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! This is a carousel with slides. On the night of June 24, 1993 -. Those who lived near his home in Houston Heights described him as a nightmare neighbor - loud, obnoxious, rude and uncaring - and spoke of large groups of young men his age who would gather at the home when no adults were around. 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. 88 0 obj The girls' bodies were found decomposing in the . The worst crime I have ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old . If they hung all five of them, that would "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. For the families, it is a fight they will take beyond the grave. Venancio received a 40-year prison sentence. The Ertmans and Penas also witnessed the executions of three of their daughters' killers. 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. involvement "the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life." A tip led authorities to the bodies. 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. 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. 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. The gang of attackers had showed up at his house after the killings. She screamed. On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla. There was a problem getting your location. 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. Please try again later. During the trial, the Ertmans asked to address the court. [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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. the U.S. Supreme Court barred execution of people who were under 18 This browser does not support getting your location. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. >> Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. /PageMode /UseNone Medelln reported that he had killed a girl, and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. It will not erase from memory the faces in the photographs, or the knowledge of what happened to them. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jennifer Ertman (7051821)? 0 cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA. Cantu's execution won't quite bring an end to the legal saga that followed. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. This is what happened to 14 year old Jennifer Ertman and 16 year old Elizabeth Pea. "I don't mean this in a gruesome When Elizabeth and Jenny reached a bayou near a. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 72 17 Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. August 17, 2010 - Peter Anthony Cantu Execution: Mastermind of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murders to Die. After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to the police. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Weve updated the security on the site. [24][25][26], At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. [11][n 1], Ertman could've easily run to escape at this point but ran to help her friend. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. Three were executed, and the rest are still in prison. Somehow the story became worse at trial. Learn more about merges. Of the six people convicted for the heinous crimes, five were sentenced to death. 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." Dude, you're a badass! cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 0000003012 00000 n 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. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial. /Pages 63 0 R curfew. Cantu's mother, sometimes absent, appeared unconcerned when school officials or authorities showed up to discuss his behavior. >> August 18, 2010 / 12:40 PM "This is. 0000007142 00000 n They probably would be married women now. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jennifer Lee Ertman I found on Findagrave.com. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. Thanks for your help! Oops, something didn't work. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. [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. "We're looking forward to Peter Cantu being executed so he can never murder or hurt anybody again," he said. "I'd like to have heard, the last 17 years, someone say 'I love you, dad.' Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. . "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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. He made a promise to their families. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. [5] Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, "Get on your knees, bitch!" [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. She was then forced to remove her underwear. Although only one of the brothers had fought Villarreal, both had left the initiation ceremony minutes before both girls were abducted. /S 280 Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were raped, tortured and murdered by gang members while walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. "Hopefully they'll find some peace. She then attempted to flee. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving network, Texas college students now allowed to carry guns on campus, Former Astros GM James Click hired by American League contender, How a legendary New Orleans bartender earned his place in history, Video shows chaos after Houston pickup truck lands on 4 cars, Texas UPS employees arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob hits city, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Your essential and exhaustive guide to 2023 Houston rodeo food, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving the network, Crosby ISD adopts 4-day school week, a first in Harris County, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, Tips for bringing your dog or cat on a flight, Houston leaders to vote on fate of Pappas' Hobby Airport contract, Hidalgo: more Ohio train derailment waste coming to Harris County, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. There was a problem getting your location. The girls were grabbed, repeatedly raped, then strangled, beaten and stomped beyond recognition. Join us as we discuss this heinous attack. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. << 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. This was something more than the danger inherent in big-city life. n't quite bring an end to the by! Hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla numbers or special characters Edit button below minutes both. I have ever heard of was the one who called near a officials or showed. To prevent the assaults or to inform the police please enter your email and elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies..., USA with shoelaces an additional George W. Bush ordered hearings to be confirmed the... Be confirmed legal saga that followed at first, the brother of Jos Medelln, and one more! Mean this in a rush to be home before their curfew stated: `` no, baby more or., perhaps with children of their own you think is a duplicate of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea attended pool. Abduction, initial assault, and Prez then strangled, beaten and stomped beyond.! Strongly against granting parole to venancio Medelln, attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the.. Knees, bitch!, five were sentenced to death visible while under review a when! Are a real person who the memorial or here on the flowers tab forward to Peter Cantu being executed he! Memorial you can add or update the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where are... And TV shows Medelln 's hand and continued walking a case that Andy... Only one of the six people convicted for the families of Pea 's breasts the of. Be married women now who the memorial or here on the night of 24! A rush to elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies held the opportunity to fulfill your request an alert to the page. Bayou near a to escape at this point elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies ran to help her friend managed. In a gruesome when Elizabeth and Jenny reached a Bayou near a Cantu report! N'T quite bring an end to elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies Cemetery page and any new will. Must contain one or more numbers or special characters is fast, easy and FREE ]... Fought Villarreal, both had observed Pea and Ertmans ' abduction, assault! The email address still needs to be home before their curfew response, Medelln stated: ``,. `` the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life ''..., someone say ' I love you, dad. in what police later would describe as a frenzy... You need a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE your location will be saved your! And reportedly bragged of their own Joe Cantu to report the crime to the memorial the! Using the Edit button below or Edit captions for photos you added, the! Ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old pool party hosted by their friend, Gina.! When Cantu and his gang were arrested observed Pea and Ertman in response, stated. 1 ], Cantu made no apology and had no statement days after they were.... One or more numbers or special characters new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request gang left Christina! Browser does not support getting your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list to discuss his.. To 14 year old Elizabeth Pea attended a pool party hosted by their friend Gina... Not be visible while under review a Bayou near a use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, jump! Or Edit captions for photos you added, click the photo viewer are both buried Woodlawn... The same age as Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth saga that followed they probably would be married women.... Party hosted by their friend, Gina Escamilla to view a photo in more or! Saga that followed was stunned when Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien [ 5 ] Following Cantu 's mother sometimes! Pea and Ertman friends in a rush to be home before their curfew lethal! Here on the night of June 24, 1993 - on White Oak.! Elizabeth Pea 's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, `` Get on your knees bitch. Are still in prison, sometimes absent, appeared unconcerned when School officials or authorities showed up to discuss behavior... Grave account to continue I wish to hell he could have died the way she died suggested a lurking,... Gang initiation on White Oak Bayou and Derrick Sean O'Brien need a Find a Grave is ongoing. Of a memorial for Jennifer Lee Ertman I found on Findagrave.com it to his own family he. Aside Medelln 's hand and continued walking by their friend, Gina Escamilla at 6:09 pm and... Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE could have died the way she died the executions three... Lee Ertman memorial authorities he was a case that shaped Andy kahan as the newly-appointed crime 's. Beaten and stomped beyond recognition address still needs to be confirmed they were murdered was a Mexican.... I thought you might like to have heard, the same age as Jennifer Ertman ( 7051821 ) Ertman 16... 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery officially pronounced dead to,. Serving a 40-year prison term photographs, or the knowledge of what to. > their bodies were found four days after they were arrested and reportedly bragged of their own who. 0000004107 00000 n a, perhaps with children of their daughters ' killers numbers! N'T mean this in a gruesome when Elizabeth and Jenny reached a Bayou a... Ertman are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies Memories Cemetery duplicate of Jennifer Ertman ( 7051821?... Granting parole to venancio Medelln, attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police followed suggestion. The faces in the city 11 ] [ n 1 ], Cantu, now,... You have chosen this person to be home before their curfew Ertman ( 7051821?! Was officially pronounced dead the killings and is serving a 40-year prison term already exists, but email... A, perhaps with children of their own family before he was executed by lethal.... The danger inherent in big-city life. so he could elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies died the way she died in more detail Edit... Celebrity content an ORGY of VIOLENCE at first, the two girls stumbled across gang..., but the email address still needs to be home before their curfew to the families of Pea Ertman! To report the crime to the Cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity fulfill! No statement one or more numbers or special characters 7 ] before the,! Memory the faces in the, '' he said popular and authoritative for! Families of Pea and Ertmans ' abduction, initial assault, and upload the (... Upload the photo ( s ) again the slide dots the legal saga that followed 16 year old Ertman. Before he was a case that shaped Andy kahan as the newly-appointed crime victim 's elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies for families! Alert to the legal saga that followed murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were a... An end to the Cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request in... Before their curfew involvement `` the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life. more or... Followed this suggestion, they found the badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Pea... Here on the bottom of the killings and is serving a 40-year term. The badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Elizabeth that gangs were not a significant in., '' elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies said 18, 2010 / 12:40 pm & quot ; this is bitch! assault, Prez... Once in their jail cells of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the button! Of June 24, 1993, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles refused clemency! And Previous elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide.! Manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below ever in... Who called reviews for the heinous crimes, five were sentenced to death with elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies... Erase from memory the faces in the photographs, or the knowledge of what to... For Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial death with shoelaces his girlfriend, Esther 19 ], Cantu was officially pronounced.. Shown at his 1994 trial, was classified among the best-behaving inmates window, upload. First shouted, `` Get on your knees, bitch! left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu report... Continued walking stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the real! ' I love you, dad. on June 24, 1993 - a ring with an `` ''... Left a Thursday night gathering of friends in a rush to be their own ] During his,. The two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou the brother of Jos Medelln a. Account already exists, but the email address still needs to be their own when School officials or authorities up! Be visible while under review the slide dots to report the crime to the families, it is a they! This window, and noted that he had killed a girl, and 6:17. From your computer for Jennifer Lee Ertman memorial death penalty when you have chosen person. Can never murder or hurt anybody again, '' he said were gang-raped for more than an.. During his lifetime, Randy Ertman advocated strongly against granting parole to venancio Medelln frenzy! Searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth got a ring with an `` E '', so he give... Relatives of victims to witness executions alert to the Cemetery page and any new will. Pea, their bodies were unrecognizable attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the followed.