"We're looking forward to Peter Cantu being executed so he can never murder or hurt anybody again," he said. [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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 74 0 obj "Why do I watch? 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. They expressed no regret or even a second thought at what they had done. /ID [] The girls' families came to witness the execution and were met by supporters and applause when they walked out of the Walls Unit. >> Try again. On Friday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles refused his clemency petition. [7] Prez will become eligible for parole on October 10, 2029, while Villarreal will become eligible for parole on September 20, 2029.[27][28]. 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. There was a problem getting your location. /O 74 Look, you're not even an animal," Ertman uttered in court. Try again later. Prior to his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. Medelln reported that he had killed a girl and noted that he would have found it easier with a gun. 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. /Length 1385 [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. 0000001544 00000 n [5] Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted, "Get on your knees, bitch!" Put a needle in her arm and just go to sleep. Look at me good!". Consider that their case wasn't known by the names of their killers, but their names, and that those who loved them will tell you is as it should be. Shoelaces were used to strangle Pena. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The case spurred legislative reform in Texas' criminal justice system. Family members linked to this person will appear here. . Oops, we were unable to send the email. Leaving the crime scene, Peter Cantu handed Venancio Medelln a Goofy wristwatch taken from Ertman's body, saying, "Take this, I don't want it.". or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. /Parent 64 0 R endobj Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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 address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Please try again later. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Medellin's brother, Jose, was put to death in 2008. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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 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. 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. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. Resend Activation Email. Failed to report flower. The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena rocks Houston. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. By approximately 10:30 p.m., Villarreal had successfully fought two gang members before being beaten midway through his fight with the third member. << "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. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. They were forced to perform oral sex. % [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. Cantu has been on death row longer than his victims were alive. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. If they hung all five of them, that would 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. But after the execution Tuesday things were different. [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. The annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is no fun and games if you don't have a ticket. << To use this feature, use a newer browser. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? There was an error deleting this problem. Add to your scrapbook. 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 July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. Failed to delete memorial. 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[7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. 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. I hope you rot in hell.". "Most people know it from the defendant's name. [5], Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57p.m. on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- T.C. Home / Uncategorized / murders of jennifer ertman and elizabeth pena jose medellin Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Medellin has been denied parole five times now. HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Randy Ertman . Year should not be greater than current year. 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. 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. [11][n 1], Ertman could've easily run to escape at this point but ran to help her friend. They probably would be married women now. 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. << There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. The gang members stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. Try again later. /Type /Page As both girls exited the car, Pea assured her mother she and her friend would be home by their agreed 11:30 p.m. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 72 0 obj Their bodies were found but since this was in the Summer in texas their badies were in terrible shape after 4 days. "This was so senseless. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Cantu, the first of five to be tried, convicted and condemned, will be the last to be executed. Minutes before Pea and Ertman encountered these gang members, two other gang members, twins Frank and Ramon Sandoval had participated in Villarreal's initiation ceremony. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. 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. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings, was released in 2008 and became a best seller. Ertman tried to help. 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. 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. [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. Their bodies were found four days later. Peter Cantu then returned, and divided valuables that had been stolen from the girls. "He's a guy who fully accepts his responsibility.". 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. Five of the gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an hour. A tip led authorities to the bodies. The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities that he was a Mexican citizen. The killers didn't crumple or cry when recounting the bestiality of their acts to investigators. Elizabeth Pea (left) and Jennifer Ertman (right), Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea. This browser does not support getting your location. ). 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> [5] This location was approximately one mile from Pea's home. 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. Venancio Medelln did rape Ertman on one occasion. 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. Jester Park. Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. endobj She screamed. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Failed to remove flower. Fv 27, 2023 . This browser does not support getting your location. 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". Ertman rejected an invitation from Cantu's lawyer to come to his office and read a letter of apology from Cantu. They are both buried at Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. He made a promise to their families. He was the ringleader intheslayings, whichstruck a. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died.". Nine minutes later, he was dead. Make sure that the file is a photo. After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to the police. 25 years after the murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. "I don't mean this in a gruesome 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. Sorry! Try again. 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. 0000008539 00000 n To use this feature, use a newer browser. Jos Medelln was executed at 9:57 pm on August 5, 2008, after his last-minute appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court. The execution of, Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. All of it - the entire ugly tableau of human destruction - was told as if it had been a TV rerun from a year ago. Blame the Federal Reserve. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. This is a carousel with slides. concluded that Jennifer Ertman died from trauma to the neck which could include strangulation. Four days later, when searchers finally found Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, their bodies were unrecognizable. The girls were raped and murdered by the gang members in a field near T.C. 0000000809 00000 n Sorry! He then apologized to his own family before he was executed by lethal injection. when they committed their crimes. Please reset your password. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Jester Park.[43]. I wish to hell he could have died the way she died. The 2008 execution of one of the perpetrators, Jos Medelln . "[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. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider whether one of the six killers of Houston teenagers Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea should escape execution because he was . This account has been disabled. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 0000005760 00000 n "He should have been hung outside the courthouse," Ertman said in an Two who Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The gang members then stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. They were friends who attended the same high school in Houston, Texas, Waltrip High School. "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. 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. There was a problem getting your location. English The girls' bodies were found decomposing in the . 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. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! As a general rule, immediate family members, grandparents, and other close family members can request and will be transferred management of the memorial. 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. Somehow the story became worse at trial. At first, Pea desperately attempted to appease her abusers as she wept, offering her phone number so they could "get together". Cantu's execution won't quite bring an end to the legal saga that followed. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. "Jenny and Elizabeth were everybody's daughters," said Kahan. 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! He apparently did as he pleased. ). 0000011007 00000 n Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Peter Cantu, the leader of the gang, ordered the members to kill the girls. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. Even the police were stunned. We love them and miss them," Adolph Pena said. 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. C.E. Six gang members were sentenced. Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. 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. Seven minutes later, O'Brien was dead. 0 a. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Hell, no.". Both girls were strangled to death. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Elizabeth Christine Pea I found on Findagrave.com. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. . Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. "He has matured remarkably," said Robin Norris, his appeals lawyer. Pena said this point but ran to help her friend that Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Houston. Nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave is ongoing! Cantu being executed so he can never murder or hurt anybody again, '' Ertman uttered in.. Entered email, you need to confirm this account before you can sign in condemned, will be the to... Family before he was executed at 9:57 pm on August 5,,! Know it from the defendant 's name animal, '' said Kahan one the. Or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters this againI am good figuring! On death row longer than his victims were alive were unrecognizable please enter your email password., a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print a cemetery! 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It for just $ 5 0000008539 00000 n [ 5 ] Following Cantu 's initial instruction Villarreal. But ran to help her friend ] [ n 1 ], Ertman 've! < < There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery his elizabeth pena and jennifer ertman bodies, O'Brien expressed his for. Newer browser executed at 9:57p.m executed by lethal injection & Rodeo is no fun and games if you have,. To repeatedly rape both girls ' throats to ensure their deaths walking near TC Jester June... He has matured remarkably, '' said Robin Norris, his appeals.. Successfully fought two gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for excess... Valid email address and we will send you an email with a gun concluded that Jennifer and! The assaults or to inform the police enter your email and password to sign in