PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The defense had requested disclosure of any statements Janessa had provided that day and in the days leading up to the hearing. The young man wasnt just a suspect in his step-mothers murder, he was the prime suspect. The youngest child, 4-year-old Adalynn, stayed behind with Houk. He spent his weekend in the Lawrence County jail. Explore. I dont want pity, but sometimes I get so angry.. The blanket was found at the scene with a singed, quarter-sized hole. Her daughters Jenessa, 13 next month, and Adalynn, who turned 9 on Wednesday are growing up, Houks parents Jack and Debbie Houk of Shenango Township said. However there are exceptions including homicide that put a case into adult court. We'd love to hear eyewitness Please sign the petition below to urge the courts to reopen Kenzie Marie Houks case and get justice. We'd love to hear eyewitness Those evaluations are required by state law to determine if the youth is receiving adequate treatment. Its not unusual for newspapers to look back on major news events when key anniversaries come about. and her unborn baby boy the day before as she lay in her bed. That led to the transfer of prosecutorial responsibilities to the attorney general. Jordan lived at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Detention Center for three years before his trial, and was later moved to other facilities. 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. Debbie Houk said Jordan Brown often gave 26-year-old Kenzie Click to reveal The boy faces life in prison, Bongivengo said, explaining the death penalty is not an option because of his age. "They are serving a life sentence and I am, I ain't got my daughter no more," Debbie Houk said. 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. April 28, 2010— -- The killing of a young pregnant mother, allegedly by the 11-year-old boy who was about to become her stepson, has created a bitter feud between two families that were about to be happily joined through marriage. Houks 7-year-old daughter told police she saw Brown quickly cover something in a blue blanket. Please subscribe to keep reading. He spent the rest of his childhood behind bars for a crime he has always claimed he was innocent of, reports the Ellwood City Ledger. "Why should you get the things back that you had when you took so much you took two lives here. But he still had to wait until 2018 for his charges to be officially overturned. He didnt realize the gravity of what was happening to him until he was incarcerated for three to five years. But now, Jordan is trying to move on and not let the past bother him. October 20, 2018 Pregnant woman found murdered, police suspect her fiance's 11-year-old son Twenty-six-year-old Kenzie Houk had been shot in the back of the head, and police arrested Jordan Brown, the son of Houk's fiance, for her murder. Whoever killed Kenzie certainly did something that day, they tore apart what could have been a loving, happy family. He said he could not be specific about what they were looking for because he did not want to endanger potential evidence or the investigation. Use the 'Report' link on Of course, Kenzies family remains convinced that Jordan is responsible and that he was released on what is essentially a technicality. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. I mean, I think theway it happened is B.S., Jordan said on 20/20. Im innocent. He noted he had spent the previous two hours with Jordans father and described him as a mess. Use the 'Report' link on No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism He reported the baby was 19 1/2 inches long and weighed 7.4 pounds. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. Christopher left for work that morning, while the kids and Houk got ready for their day. Your IP: Thus, now that hes been acquitted, lets find out where he is today, shall we? Ive never received the answers I want. (AP Photo/The Houk Family), This undated photo released by the Houk family shows Kenzie Marie Houk with her daughter Adalynn in Wampum, Pa. Eleven-year-old Jordan Brown is charged in the shooting death of the 26-year-old pregnant mother of two. Jordans case is being transferred to the Pennsylvania attorney generals office. ", Jordan was denied the chance to stay in a juvenile facility where he would be released by the age of 21 as requested by his lawyers. that is degrading to another person. Over the following nine years, Christopher visited his son every single day even though the trip was about 115 miles each way bringing him fantasy books to distract him from life behind bars. Thats the same day Lawrence County President Judge Dominick Motto is scheduled to conduct a hearing on whether or not Jordan should continue to be treated as an adult. Feb. Jack Houk, who noted he has developed health issues that may be the result of stress, said, Every day I think of my daughter. Share with Us. By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. Debbie Houk said, adding that Jordan "just bucked her (Kenzie) a "Worse thing is losing your daughter," said Houk's mother Debbie Houk. 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. But there was another suspect they weren't considering: Houk's ex-partner, Adam Harvey, who Houk was reportedly terrified of and she even had a protective order against him. You have permission to edit this article. This petition starter stood up and took action. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 11-year-old boy who was about to become her stepson. He said the two were removed from school by state police after officers had learned of Houks death. A little remorse on his part would help.. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. I just dont get it.. Share with Us. But in the five years since the shooting, Jordan has not received the help he needs, she said. Cloudy skies after midnight. accounts, the history behind an article. She had been shot in the back of the neck. Christopher and Houk had already established their family: Christopher's son, 11-year-oldJordan Brown,and Houk's daughters, 4-year-old Adalynn and 7-year-old Jenessa. But the day took a tragic turn around 9 a.m. when Adalynn was found crying in the doorway of their Wampum, Pennsylvania home by a landscaper. It was Houk's 4-year-old daughter Adalynn who discovered her own mother's body. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, He was no longer facing life in prison. Because original statements by Janessa had the effect of clearing Jordan, while it was only a later one that implicated him, the defense says it needs access to more recent information she may have offered to authorities. Lawrence County District. Both follow in their mothers athletic footsteps and both have chosen Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Gabby Douglas and their mother as role models. Brown and his attorneys agreed to that in motion court Monday morning, according to Houks attorney, Peter J. Pietrandrea of Cranberry. Later though, Jordan recalled seeing a black truck near the garage. Eventually, at 14, Jordan was found delinquent and sentenced to be held at juvie until 21. Bongivengo explained that children between the ages of 10 and 18 normally are treated as juveniles. Not long after theyd begun working, one of the tree trimmers noticed 4-year-old Adalynn standing in the doorway and crying that her mother was dead. They say they remember that. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. They didnt move her, choosing to preserve the integrity of the scene as they waited for the medical examiner. In prison, he taught himself guitar and how to play basketball, but it was still a prison. Jordan was 11 at the time of the deaths. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. Be Truthful. They added that America is the only country on Earth where kids can be sentenced to a life sentence without the chance for parole. Winds light and variable. 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This being rural Pennsylvania, this was not uncommon and neither was Jordan knowing how to shoot. Live. After being found responsible for the deaths on April 13, 2012, Jordan was sent first to a juvenile facility in Chambersburg, then to George Junior Republic in Grove City. Their motion notes she did not testify at Jordans preliminary hearing March 29. Chris had been at his job in the shipping department of a local tableware company when he received the news. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. On February 20, 2009, 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk and her unborn son, Christopher were murdered. "He's an average 12-year-old," said Jordan's father Chris Brown. The coroner said an unborn baby could survive only minutes after its mothers death. All I want is for him to say that he loved my daughter and that he felt bad about what happened.. 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. blanket and came back downstairs to Houk's bedroom and shot her in He also indicated there is still work under way. I miss her too, said Debbie Houk, who still stops almost every day at Parkside Cemetery, where her daughter and unborn grandson are buried. Shows. She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. Bongivengo noted Houk, who had been lying on her side, was shot at point blank range. According to ABC News, the Supreme Court determined that there was not enough evidence to say with certainty that Jordan had committed the crime. They had a baby on the way after all. Low around 40F. Adalynn said to serve her birthday cake after the memorial service, said Debbie Houk, who shares a birthday with her granddaughter. The boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, did not immediately return a 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. Live. As CNN reports, both Houk and her unborn baby had been killed by a 20-gauge shotgun bullet to the back of the head. An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy blew away his father's eight-months-pregnant fiance - then calmly got on the bus and went to school, police and. But for Jordan Brown, the nightmare was just beginning. If he does, the decisions would fall to the judge. Then, around 2011, prosecutors chose not to try him as an adult in the fatal shooting, as they had initially planned. racist or sexually-oriented language. Jordan Anthony Brown got on a school bus Friday morning and spent part of his day in Mohawks fifth grade. It's the same gun that killed my After nine-and-a-half years, Chris Brown felt as if a great weight had been lifted off him and his family. 51K views, 80 likes, 1 loves, 226 comments, 24 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABC 20/20: For the first time, Kenize Houk's younger daughter Adalynn describes finding her mother dead inside their. 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. Detectives found a used shotgun shell along the path Jordan and Jenessa took to their bus stop during their investigations, so they got a warrant for the former and arrested him at 3:30 a.m. the following morning. His ability to overcome adversity thats been thrown at him in life is astonishing. An appeal of the Superior Court ruling will be argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court next month. 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. For the fifth time, the Houk family has marked the death of their Kenzie Marie and her unborn son. Jenessa is a cheerleader for football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team. But when a tree-service crew showed up at the house at 9, one of the workers observed Houk's 4-year-old daughter crying at the door that her mother was dead. We were encouraged to enroll her in a program where she could compete and be trained by international coaches. Jordan Brown talks about the confusion he felt for years following his detention in a juvenile delinquency facility for the death of 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk, in an interview with Juju. In July 2018, Jordan Brown was set free. Join Facebook to connect with Jenessa Houk and others you may know. Two years after his guilty verdict for the first-degree murder of Kenzie and the criminal homicide of her unborn child was overturned for good, Jordan filed a federal lawsuit against a few former police officials over his stolen childhood. 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. But investigators believed the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence came from Jenessa. Low 39F. You have permission to edit this article. daughter," she said. Don't Threaten. (AP Photo/Thhe Houk Family). Bones found in Taylor Township identified as Story, Pa. state senators urge Biden to restart Keysto, Successes despite setbacks veteran and New Ca, Larry Pugh discusses Black history during library event, Live stream: Jordan Brown news conference, Our view | Disorder in the court: Nine years far too long to decide homicide case, Jordan Brown released, but case remains under appeal, Dollar General plans new Neshannock store, Column by Ron Poniewasz Jr.: WPIAL doesn't disappoint with questionable playoff venues, Two charged in gunfire while driving incident, Man charged for being inside condemned house, County WPIAL teams bidding for berth in state title tilt, Amish buggy crash victim described as good neighbor, Woman accused of stabbing man with scissors, New Castle school administrators getting raises, ROBISON, Linda May 19, 1951 - Mar 1, 2023, MARCEAU JR., William Jul 29, 1956 - Feb 27, 2023, SNIDER, Steven Jun 10, 1983 - Jan 25, 2023. Be Proactive. What I would like to see is for the boy to get some help and for us to get freedom from this hurt.. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism It appeared that neither of them had noticed anything unusual that morning. New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long- term', says NATO chief Stoltenberg, Finland begins building fence along Russia border. Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, shared the two-story white frame farmhouse on Wampum-New Galilee Road with her two daughters, her boyfriend Christopher Brown and Jordan, 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. The girls receive counseling, she noted, but the family is trying to keep their lives as normal as possible. Adalynn, who loves to read, is enrolled in gymnastics and this year began learning basketball fundamentals. By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. If convicted, he could become the youngest person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Im not religious, but this is what were told to do. 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. You can cancel at any time. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Several times during Saturdays press conference, the district attorney said he could not comment, including when asked if the boy had confessed. The site calls for financial support to provide Jordan with an effective defense. Chance of rain 60%. Jenessa Houk is on Facebook. Most children who are imprisoned have their case examined within a year at the most, while Jordan's case languished for years before he was even officially charged with anything (viaNew Castle News). He called the situation tragic in every sense of the word.. These are minor children, he said. So he was ruled out as a suspect pretty quickly. Jenessa Houk - PA Track and Field results and photos on Athletic.net Authorities believe the killing was premeditated. Human gestation is generally 38 weeks, with two weeks more or less considered to be normal. It wasn't that Kenzie was worried about the pregnancy, she was ready to have the baby and had plenty of practice being a mom. "I'll never cook that turkey. These ventures are why the latter bought a youth-sized 20-gauge shotgun for his son, which the police considered the murder weapon. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. However, his lawyers continued to file appeals on his behalf, which resulted in a 50 verdict to overturn his conviction on July 18, 2018, by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. or anything. He also didnt seem to know where Kenzie lived. Yet they said that after Janessa went to live with her mothers family, she provided a third statement to authorities. "She has said to me, 'Grandma, I got up that morning, I went down to get mommy, I shook her and she wouldn't wake and she had blood on her back,'" Debbie Houk said. Hes remarkable, Alec Wright, one of Jordans lawyers, candidly stated. Chance of rain 60%. "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.'". Don't Threaten. I hope they will not forget her. He was finally exonerated by the Supreme Court of the charges that had defined much of his childhood. telephone call seeking comment Tuesday. 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. More than two years after he was charged, the now-13-year-old was moved out of adult and back to juvenile court. It is not possible that it could have been anyone else.. This story originally appearedFeb. 23, 2009, in the New Castle News. Defense attorneys are asking that his case be transferred to the juvenile system. Lamancusa revealed he had provided unspecified legal advice to Jordans father, Christopher Brown. He went downstairs, got his clothes out of his soon-to-be bedroom and got dressed. This includes photographs, references to or the identities of the minor children. Jordan said he had seen a black truck near his house that morning, but he didn't think anything of it at the time. They are now 12 and 9, respectively. A Pennsylvania judge ruled last month that the boy will be tried as an adult. Born on August 12, 1997, Jordan Brown and his father, Chris Brown, were a close duo who spent most of their weekends hunting in the nearby woods. racist or sexually-oriented language. Here, she stated that she had heard what sounded like a gun being fired while waiting for Jordan to get ready and leave the house with her. Police say she initially said nothing unusual happened that morning before school. "The case is obviously not over," said Elisco. Brown told "Nightline" he was "heartbroken" and "sickened by the judge's ruling.". Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 39F. Pietrandrea said Houks request is reasonable. Kids charged with murder in Pennsylvania are automatically considered adults and only a judge's decision can move the trial to juvenile court. That was her gift. A funeral for Houk and her baby boy, who was named Christopher Their photos should not be on the Internet., More in TIMELINE: Jordan Brown case (36of59). It wasnt that Kenzie was worried about the pregnancy, she was ready to have the baby and had plenty of practice being a mom. Well, it was not an easy road for the Brown family. It had been barely 18 hours since Kenzie was killed and already, Chris had lost his fiancee, unborn son, and his only remaining son. Its just not fair for the Houks, Jack Houk said. 2009. that is degrading to another person. 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. The family was interviewed immediately after Houk's death. Chance of rain 60%.. lot when his Dad wasn't around.". 85 Followers, 146 Following, 13 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from jenessa houk (@cheer1jenessa) that is degrading to another person. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 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. experienced hunters at a turkey shoot. By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. Since he never changed his story and maintained his innocence, his father believed him. Jordan's life has a bit more normalcy now that he has left prison. NORMAL A Normal woman is suing the town's police department in federal court after she said officers used excessive force and arrested her w. Jenessa Houk. Her case deserves to be reopened and reinvestigated. Per New Castle News, the grieving family's story turned even more nightmarish as Jordan was yanked from his bed in the middle of the night by police officers. It would have been expensive and taken all of her time. Right away, he could tell something was very wrong. Jenessa Houk was born on 03/16/2001 and is 21 years old. She had a message to relay to the person who noticed her distress: her mom, Kenzie Houk, was dead. Jordan assured them that he hadnt touched any gun that morning, but the smell of gunpowder and the youth model shotgun in the home told a different story. Watch. The morning of her murder, Houk had asked Browns father if he could stay home from work with her. In the meantime, I keep them busy and they keep me busy.. View the profiles of people named Janessa Houk. Explore. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 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. Christopher Brown was not home at the time of the shooting, Bongivengo said, adding police had confirmed he was at work by 7 a.m. Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, who took office Monday after being elected in November, has a conflict of interest. According to The Innocence Project, the investigation found no fingerprint or DNA clues that would point toward Jordan being Houk's killer. A hearing for Jordan is scheduled to begin in juvenile court Tuesday before Lawrence County Judge John W. Hodge. to get the boy released. Jordan Brown Case, Five Years Later: Victims family coming along, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Authorities ruled her death a homicide. At the same time, officers had been dispatched to Mohawk Elementary School to speak to Janessa and Jordan. Each day Debbie Houk visits her daughter and grandson's grave while Chris Brown makes the four-hour round trip to visit his son in a juvenile detention center. Low 39F. In a criminal complaint released yesterday, Jenessa Houk told police she had just finished putting on her socks and shoes Friday morning when she heard a "big boom." The 7-year-old girl then. But he had been at work during the shooting, so he couldnt have done it. Three years after Kenzie Houks murder, the trial, held at juvenile court, found Jordan Brown, then 14-years-old, guilty. As a result of this attack, both she and her unborn child passed, but Jordan was apprehended the very next day. Threats of harming another "I think the judge's decision in this case is both disappointing, and I think, misinformed," said Lawrence Steinberg of Temple University. that is degrading to another person. Don't Threaten. told Chris and Kenzie and they didn't believe it," Kraner said. Without any help or treatment, he cant be rehabilitated. Stay at Home shutterstock.com As the result of the investigation, which reportedly included statements from Janessa Houk who was 7 when the shooting occurred Jordan was charged with two counts of homicide in the death of Houk and her unborn child. At around 9 a.m., some tree trimmers arrived to do some work around the house. "I know my son. Join Facebook to connect with Janessa Houk and others you may know. Police said what really turned the case for them were additional interviews they conducted with Jenessa and Jordan the night of the murders. 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. 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. a while, the woman's mother said Tuesday. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Police say Brown walked into his father's bedroom, shot his future stepmom with a hunting rifle and then boarded a bus for elementary school. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. According to Bongivengo, who called the crime heinous, the 4-year-old didnt hear the shooting. We He told him, 'Don't you ever She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight.