Cloudy skies after midnight. After nine-and-a-half years, Chris Brown felt as if a great weight had been lifted off him and his family. person will not be tolerated. accounts, the history behind an article. After all, he has post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] due to this. If convicted, he could become the youngest person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Looking back, I wish we had. Debbie Houk said, adding that Jordan "just bucked her (Kenzie) a that is degrading to another person. She said she also wishes things had gone differently between her family and Jordans father. Roughly 45 minutes later, Kenzie's other daughter, 4-year-old Adalynn, found the body and alerted others. More than two years after he was charged, the now-13-year-old was moved out of adult and back to juvenile court. that is degrading to another person. We dont celebrate.. Home. As part of procedure, they had to interview him and even swabbed his hands for gunpowder residue just in case. Winds light and variable. lot when his Dad wasn't around.". He said Jordan can petition to have his case transferred to juvenile court and he can request bond. They say they remember that. Wampum. He needs to admit what hes done and show some remorse, she continued. "I know my son. Be Truthful. According to ABC News, the Supreme Court determined that there was not enough evidence to say with certainty that Jordan had committed the crime. On February 20, 2009, 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk and her unborn son, Christopher were murdered. I just dont get it.. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism The site jordanbrowntrust.org now includes blank spaces and the statement Image removed at the request of the Houk family. The girls names also have been removed from text within the website. a good shot. Be Proactive. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Although not an eyewitness, the district attorney said, she was there at the time of the shooting, she heard it and she saw Jordan with the shotgun. We "They are serving a life sentence and I am, I ain't got my daughter no more," Debbie Houk said. Plus, he cannot be recharged with the same offense, according to the court's ruling, according to New Castle News. We didnt do it, Debbie Houk said. They didnt move her, choosing to preserve the integrity of the scene as they waited for the medical examiner. It would have been expensive and taken all of her time. Be Proactive. Houk's nephew reportedly heard Jordan make an alarming comment before the murder, which Debbie Houk says was swept under the rug. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, daughter," she said. In it, the girl said she had heard a shotgun blast before she and Jordan had left the house to catch a school bus. Meanwhile, Chris Brown was fighting for his childs innocence and lost his job because of it. Steve Ignatz, a lieutenant with the state police, said there is no law in Pennsylvania calling for the sales of shotguns to be recorded, as is required with handguns. In this undated photo released by the Houk family shows Kenzie Marie Houk with her daughters Jenessa, left, and Adalynn in Wampum, Pa.. Eleven-year-old Jordan Brown is charged in the shooting . Chance of rain 60%. Corporal Jeffrey Martin was one of the first responders on the scene. An appeal of the Superior Court ruling will be argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court next month. came downstairs with two guns, but returned upstairs after Houk's Kenzie in the head and pop both kids. We'd love to hear eyewitness blanket and came back downstairs to Houk's bedroom and shot her in First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Then, after so many years of waiting to hear the verdict in his case, Jordan was found guilty on first-degree murder charges in 2012 (perYahoo News). Jordan has always maintained that he was innocent of Houk's killing, but with Houk's family and the police working against him, the fifth-grader was stuck in the juvenile detention system. Yet they said that after Janessa went to live with her mothers family, she provided a third statement to authorities. On February 20, 1997, the fifth-grader followed his normal routine alongside 7-year-old Jenessa Houk, his soon-to-be step-sister, and left home at almost 8:15 in the morning for school. The youngest child, 4-year-old Adalynn, stayed behind with Houk. to get the boy released. Winds light and variable. Jordan was arrested by state police around 3 a.m. Saturday, arraigned before District Judge Scott McGrath and placed in the Lawrence County jail without bond. Jordan Anthony Brown got on a school bus Friday morning and spent part of his day in Mohawks fifth grade. It was in that downstairs bedroom that Kenzie had been sleeping in that morning, simply because it was easier. Flick Fact: Who actually owns State Farm? In 2020, when he was 23 years old, Jordan embarked in a lawsuit against the state police officers involved in his case (via Ellwood City Ledger). But eventually, he noted, the 7-year-old implicated him. Debbie Houk said Jordan, a hunter, knew a lot about guns and was So how and why was Jordan finally exonerated? The worker quickly called 911 and waited for Pennsylvania State Police to arrive. But investigators believed the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence came from Jenessa. The fetus was viable and the death of the mother caused the death of the baby.. In the past, Harvey had warned that he would kill Houk, threatening her and her new family after finding out that Adalynn was not his biological child. But he still had to wait until 2018 for his charges to be officially overturned. disrespect her,"' Debbie Houk added. Jordan Brown was released from a juvenile detention facility in June 2016, months before his 19th birthday, and ordered to remain on probation until 21-years-old. Kenzie Houks family is coming along since she was taken from them five years ago. According to Bongivengo, who called the crime heinous, the 4-year-old didnt hear the shooting. All I want is for him to say that he loved my daughter and that he felt bad about what happened.. As soon as the coroner began taking photos, Martin realized that what they were looking at was no complication or accident. She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. At 11 or 12, Debbie Houk recalled, Kenzie was involved in gymnastics and took part in national competition in Nashville, Tenn. She finished sixth, her mother said. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. For now, it's a life interrupted for Jordan, as his lawyers begin the process of appealing the judge's decision. "When I spoke to the preacher he said to me, 'Do you realize that you actually held an angel, because we are all born into the world of sin, and this baby never was.'". Elisco has said he had no The coroner said an unborn baby could survive only minutes after its mothers death. On the morning of Feb. 21, 2009, attorney Dennis Elisco met a boy who changed his life. Still even working on the idea that Jordan was jealous of his new baby brother, all of this might not be enough to charge him with the crime. "Jordan had told (my son around Christmas) he was going to pop The blanket was found at the scene with a singed, quarter-sized hole. These ventures are why the latter bought a youth-sized 20-gauge shotgun for his son, which the police considered the murder weapon. In the meantime, I keep them busy and they keep me busy.. 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Jenessa is a cheerleader for football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team. But when she was. At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Bongivengo said the situation is something you wouldnt think of in your worst nightmare., And although the case is still being investigated and evidence being gathered, he said, We believe we have enough to charge him.. He believed it had been a work truck and thought nothing of it. Live. Jordan was released from juvenile detention in 2016, seven years after the murder of Kenzie Houk, since he had completed a slate of juvenile detention programs, per New Castle News. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday morning. Although law enforcement officials are not allowed to release the names of juveniles charged with a crime, the state police made Jordans name public because he has been charged as an adult. "The boys and girls, the kids that he's with, they're pretty harsh kids. But for the family of Houk, 26, who was found shot in the head in her rural farmhouse in Western Pennsylvania in February 2009 -- just two weeks away from giving birth to her first son -- life in prison may not be as severe as losing a loved one. Noga attributed the death of Houks baby to anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the bodys tissues. Since Jordans adjudication and disposition the juvenile justice system equivalent of a guilty verdict and sentencing Houk family members have been present every six months when Lawrence County Judge John W. Hodge reviews the case. Up Next in news My Son Is Not a Monster October 20, 2018 He attended college to study computer science and criminal justice, in the hopes of becoming a civil rights attorney for the next generation of accused kids. He and Jordan finally felt vindicated in their assertions that Jordan hadnt committed that terrible crime. Ive never received the answers I want. This includes photographs, references to or the identities of the minor children. He said that after the older two children had left for school, she turned on the television and got herself something to eat. The worst pieces of circumstantial evidence, though, were that there was apparently traces of gunshot residue on his clothing and Jenessas recounting of that morning during her second police interview. "I wake up in the middle of the night and think I'm going to have an anxiety attack knowing that I'm never seeing her again. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, We'd love to hear eyewitness Keep it Clean. It had been barely 18 hours since Kenzie was killed and already, Chris had lost his fiancee, unborn son, and his only remaining son. Your IP: Defense attorneys are asking that his case be transferred to the juvenile system. Police turned to other suspects. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. But everything changed on the morning of February 20, 2009. However, that determination by Lawrence County Judge John W. Hodge has been overturned by the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the case was ordered back to the county. or anything. The girls were sent to their fathers house while Chris and Jordan stayed in the home. When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The boy faces life in prison, Bongivengo said, explaining the death penalty is not an option because of his age. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. Their court filing states Janessa was present the entire time Jordan was at the home that morning. Threats of harming another Investigators believed with substantial evidence, that the son of Houks fianc, Jordan Brown, who was 11-years-old at the time, had committed the murder. It appeared that neither of them had noticed anything unusual that morning. She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. Bongivengo pointed to that information as the reason for the second charge homicide of an unborn child. But everybody put that aside and did their job to the letter.. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Prosecutors stand ready to bring the Jordan Brown case to its conclusion. Winds light and variable. Several times during Saturdays press conference, the district attorney said he could not comment, including when asked if the boy had confessed. They took him to the police station and resumed questioning. Jordans case is being transferred to the Pennsylvania attorney generals office. But for Jordan Brown, the nightmare was just beginning. It is not possible that it could have been anyone else.. It was Houk's 4-year-old daughter Adalynn who discovered her own mother's body. He is in a state of disbelief and shock., Elisco echoed Bongivengos words, saying this is an extremely tragic situation.. Please sign the petition below to urge the courts to reopen Kenzie Marie Houks case and get justice. Brown and his dad, Christopher, lived with Houk and her two small daughters in a farmhouse in a rural western Pennsylvania town of Wampum, where the father often took his son hunting. That doesn't seem quite right to me.". person will not be tolerated. Jack Houk, who noted he has developed health issues that may be the result of stress, said, Every day I think of my daughter. Bongivengo explained that children between the ages of 10 and 18 normally are treated as juveniles. In the suit, Houk asked that all reference to Adalynn Houk, 7, and Jenessa Houk, 11, be removed from the website. He doesn't appreciate the magnitude of what he's facing. Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, who took office Monday after being elected in November, has a conflict of interest. Kenzies old boyfriend, Adam Harvey was another suspect the police originally liked for the murder. On Valentine's Day, he beat out many older and more accounts, the history behind an article. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. You have permission to edit this article. Im not angry. Be Proactive. Bongivengo who said no bond is normal in a homicide case noted the boy is segregated at the jail. Human gestation is generally 38 weeks, with two weeks more or less considered to be normal. Yesterday was a difficult day for everybody involved, the district attorney said Saturday, adding officials at the scene were in shock. He hopes to try and gain justice for the nearly 10 years of his childhood and teenage life that he spent behind bars. I am seeking justice for Kenzie Marie Houk, her unborn son, Christopher, and their loved ones. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Bongivengo described Houks older daughter who will be 8 next month as the main witness. Join Facebook to connect with Jenessa Houk and others you may know. More. We were encouraged to enroll her in a program where she could compete and be trained by international coaches. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. mitsubishi rpm problem Debbie Houk said she will still observe Adalynns birthday with cupcakes, but there wont be a party for a week or two. Although he said Saturday he did not know who the gun belongs to, Bongivengo noted it was retrieved from Jordans bedroom and is most likely his weapon.. "I think the judge's decision in this case is both disappointing, and I think, misinformed," said Lawrence Steinberg of Temple University. Police said what really turned the case for them were additional interviews they conducted with Jenessa and Jordan the night of the murders. racist or sexually-oriented language. There were two main theories: either a stranger had broken into Houk's home after the kids left for school and murdered the 26-year-old. He pointed out there was no forced entry, no sign of a struggle and no money missing. However, he noted officers had executed several search warrants, including one Friday that produced what they believe to be the murder weapon. racist or sexually-oriented language. But police said that Jordan later changed his story, adding additional details about a man inside the truck. Pregnant woman's mom: 11-year-old made threats, In this undated photo released by the Houk family shows Kenzie Marie Houk with her daughters Jenessa, left, and Adalynn in Wampum, Pa.. Eleven-year-old Jordan Brown is charged in the shooting death of the 26-year-old pregnant mother of two. Before the murder, there were multiple accounts of Houk being uncomfortable and tormented by Brown. Cloudy skies after midnight. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The broken-hearted father of Jordan Brown is rebuilding his life while remaining strong for his son. A beautician until she became pregnant for the third time, Kenzie Houk entertained her daughters by painting their fingernails, doing up their hair and putting on music and dancing with them, their grandmother said. Brown continues to proclaim his son's innocence. He reported the baby was 19 1/2 inches long and weighed 7.4 pounds. Lamancusa revealed he had provided unspecified legal advice to Jordans father, Christopher Brown. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Winds light and variable. Then, around 2011, prosecutors chose not to try him as an adult in the fatal shooting, as they had initially planned. He said the two were removed from school by state police after officers had learned of Houks death. A funeral for Houk and her baby boy, who was named Christopher Christopher left for work that morning, while the kids and Houk got ready for their day. Police arrived to find Houk lying on the bed downstairs in a pool of blood. indication the boy had a problem with Houk. Shows. Its not unusual for newspapers to look back on major news events when key anniversaries come about. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. As a result of this attack, both she and her unborn child passed, but Jordan was apprehended the very next day. Share with Us. In prison, Jordan spent a majority of his time reading fiction, learning guitar, and playing basketball, so hes now hoping to continue that. David H. Acker and Dennis A. Elisco, Jordans attorneys, describe Janessa as perhaps the most critical witness in this case. racist or sexually-oriented language. Authorities believe the killing was premeditated. We'd love to hear eyewitness By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. He fell to his knees in despair and once he had regained composure, made his way to the state police barracks. ; s other daughter, '' she said she also wishes things had differently..., around 2011, prosecutors chose not to try him as an adult in the form of his in... 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