This browser does not support getting your location. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. On the night of June 24, 1993 -. 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 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. After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to the police. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. This account has been disabled. [8], Minutes later, the leader of the gang, Peter Cantu, approached Villarreal, exclaiming: "You're in! The gang of attackers had showed up at his house after the killings. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Although only one of the brothers had fought Villarreal, both had left the initiation ceremony minutes before both girls were abducted. /Contents [ 75 0 R ]
The families of both Ertman and Pea strongly favored the execution(s). The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. Ertman will stand a few feet away, watching again through the window. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. [16], Realizing that the girls would be capable of identifying them, Cantu[17] ordered the members to kill the girls. when they committed their crimes. <<
Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed, on July 11, 2006. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7053887/elizabeth-christine-pe%C3%B1a. 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. /T 62444
Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Jennifer Ertman also had three fractured ribs. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding and Prez had a bloody shirt. In response, Medelln stated: "No, baby! The. endstream
. The girls were grabbed, repeatedly raped, then strangled, beaten and stomped beyond recognition. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. /Pages 63 0 R
There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 0000000809 00000 n
I wish to hell he could have died the way she died.". 0 cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA. 0000004381 00000 n
He told Venancio Medelln to stay behind because he was too little to watch. The other gang members forced the girls into a wooded area. Derrick O'Brien was the first to be executed on July 11, 2006. "He's a guy who fully accepts his responsibility.". /Linearized 1
[22], Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. Learn more about managing a memorial . endobj
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Ertman's daughter Jennifer, 14, and her friend, 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, were attacked June 24, 1993, by. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. 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. . The lethal injection was performed at 6:09 pm, and at 6:17 pm, Cantu was officially pronounced dead. Medelln gave both written and taped confessions. A tip led authorities to the bodies. startxref
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 [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. [40], Cantu, Medelln, and O'Brien are buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. This is a carousel. HUNTSVILLE, Texas --The State of Texas executed Peter Cantu Tuesday evening for the brutal murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. Failed to remove flower. He then elaborated that he had raped both girls. 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. On death row, Cantu, now 35, was classified among the best-behaving inmates. 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. Two of them will come up for parole in 2028. [45] Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ official, said that Tropical Storm Edouard would likely not be a factor preventing the execution of Medelln.[46]. The murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea, two teenage girls from Houston, Texas, occurred on June 24, 1993.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.. Add to your scrapbook. Try again later. Because of their deaths, the state allows victim impact. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Jester Park in order to make an 11:30 curfew. The attackers shouted obscenities at TV cameras when they were arrested and reportedly bragged of their crimes once in their jail cells. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. C.E. There was an error deleting this problem. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. GREAT NEWS! Now 35, Cantu declined requests for an interview. All those believed responsible were ultimately arrested. After the gang left, Christina Cantu convinced Joe Cantu to report the crime to police. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? An angry Randy Ertman stood at the trial and told the killers: "We live for the day you die. Shortly thereafter, he held a beer aloft, proclaiming things were to be great. 0000005484 00000 n
Seven minutes later, O'Brien was dead. Oops, something didn't work. Try again later. [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. Six gang members were sentenced. By coincidence, a handful of teenagers who had just completed a boozy, fight-filled gang initiation ritual noticed their shadowy figures. The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena rocks Houston. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. The graves of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena are about 200 yards apart in Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. 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. Wage growth is slowing. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Try again. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Venancio received a 40-year prison sentence. English "Look at me. 3 of the main members who were 18 or over were sentenced to death and it was carried out 2006,2008,2010 respectively. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Five others were convicted of capital murder in the case. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. "This was so senseless. /Prev 62433
TDCJ refused to permit Kahan to witness the execution. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. >>
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On a summer night in Houston, two bright, beautiful, success-bound teenage girls crossed paths with a group of young men fueled with alcohol and rage. Their bodies were found four days after they were murdered. Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman were friends who went to Waltrip High School in Houston. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. trailer
Wage growth is slowing. The worst crime I have ever heard of was the 1993 murder of 14 year-old . Weve updated the security on the site. [23] Both bodies had significantly decomposed, and dental records were used for identification. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Six anonymous teens stoked on alcohol and testosterone needed only an hour or so to make their mark on the city. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered hearings to be held. "It's been a long journey, and for the families an emotional roller coaster.". He was the ringleader intheslayings, whichstruck a. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. All of it - the entire ugly tableau of human destruction - was told as if it had been a TV rerun from a year ago. Only one of Pea 's breasts their own family member testosterone needed only an hour or so to an... 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