The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office then took over prosecution of the case. Another issue Jordans attorneys raised was that there was no blood or tissue found on the gun or Jordan Browns clothing that day. It was the police. 2016) (In re J.B. III), the Superior Court affirmed the juvenile court, and rejected claims that the juvenile court had improperly reassessed the evidence and made new credibility determinations in ruling on Brown's post-dispositional motions. And I'll say it. All I remember was they came and got me at 3:00 in the morning, Jordan Brown said. We must demand to know how the Pennsylvania State Police could establish policies that would allow this tragedy to occur, and, even more to the point, encourage the occurrence of tragedies like this one.. On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Jordan Brown, who was convicted of murdering his fathers pregnant fiance in 2009 when he was just 11 years old. I was standing right at the edge of the doorway, and I remember the coroner saying, as he started to touch the body, We have a problem, Martin said. While awaiting trial, Jordan Brown was housed for three years at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center, a juvenile detention facility in Erie County, Pennsylvania. In a 5-0 ruling, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Jordan Brown, who was 11-years-old when he was arrested, booked into an adult jail and initially charged as an adult for the 2009 murder of his father's pregnant fiance. I didn't think anything of it. On weekends Jordan hunted alongside his father, Chris Brown, who purchased the youth-sized 20-gauge shotgun that state police believed was the murder weapon. (This account of the case is pulled from reports by ABC News, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette and available court documents.). Pay for the crime that you did, Deborah Houk said in a phone interview Wednesday. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The arrest of an 11-year-old for murder quickly gained wide media attention, and suddenly Wampum, Pennsylvania, a town with a population of roughly 600 people, had millions of eyes on it. The 5-0 supreme court ruling exonerated Brown of all charges, overturning earlier findings by a Lawrence County Juvenile Court Judge that were upheld by the states appellate court. The trial lasted three days. No question.. Kenzie Houk, seen here in this undated family photo, and Chris Brown were engaged when she was killed. 6 New Details About The Woman Who May Have Falsely Accused Emmett Till. A man has been jailed for 21 years and his partner for a minimum of 29 years over the torture and killing of his six-year-old son, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Brown, who has lived with his uncle since being put on probation in 2016, was not in police custody and had met all of his treatment goals, Burdick told The Associated Press. The investigators were excited to have a sensational murder case, and once their minds were made up they did not collect additional physical evidence because they were sure they had their killer. Were ecstatic, we believe professionally and personally in Jordans innocence, Elisco told the station. Meanwhile, officers also went to Mohawk Elementary School to speak to Jenessa and Jordan. Sometime shortly after, one of the tree trimmers spotted little Adalynn in the doorway, sobbing and saying her mother was dead. Judge Hodge issued a juvenile court opinion on April 19, 2015, again finding that Jordan was the individual who killed Kenzie Houk and her unborn child on the morning of February 20, 2009. Officials say it has been determined that a physical altercation occurred between the victim and Dequan Blount, who . On May 1, 2011, hours after a meeting of the neo-Nazi group at Hall's house in Southern California, the boy took his father's revolver from the upstairs bedroom where his stepmother was sleeping. Two years later that resulted in the July 18, 2018 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling. The work on this case like so many unsolved cases was shoddy. Jordan Brown (Shooting of Kenzie Houk) | Did an 11-Year-Old Commit Murder? "Homicide, something of this magnitude was very, very uncommon," Martin said. Police also confirmed he had been at work during the shooting, so they quickly eliminated him as a suspect. Tacoma Police say. Following three days of testimony and legal argument, Judge Hodge issued his ruling on April 13, 2012, that Brown was responsible for first degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk and of homicide in the death of her unborn male child. He needed to drive four hours every day, he said, to visit Jordan because hes my son., Jordan Brown said those visits were a lifeline: I dont know what I wouldve done without them.". Aired on 05/06/1991 | CC tv-pg. Channel 11s Amy Marcinkiewicz reached out to Houks family. They attempted CPR, but it was too late. He was almost 21 when Pennsylvanias highest court said prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to support a conviction. The mother of Kenzie Houk, who was 26 when she was murdered in 2009, and other relatives confirmed Monday's decision by a Lawrence County judge to release Jordan Brown following a juvenile. April 13, 2012. The blended family seemed to be bonding. I agree, the more I think about the more unlikely it seems. Nearly two years after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court cleared him, Mr. Brown is suing an ex-state police commissioner and former troopers. The coroner determined Lily had died at least two hours before her stepmother . And again a third appeal was taken to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. I don't think the kid did it. (CBS/AP) PITTSBURGH - A judge on Friday found 14-year-old Jordan Brown guilty of killing his father's pregnant fiance . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. >>PREVIOUS STORY: Man convicted at 11 of pregnant stepmoms 2009 murder exonerated of crime. The rounds struck a victim's vehicle and an unoccupied apartment building. Davis's death helped inspire the Black Lives Matter Movement and contributed to the national debate Read MoreJordan Russell Davis (1995-2012) Love is the desire to see unneces I thought, you know, it was just some guy there doing work or something. Police also said they found a 20-gauge shotgun shell casing in pristine condition next to the familys driveway the next day. They are also not smart enough to leave no traces. I'm a little on the fence concerning his guilt, but one thing I keep thinking about is this child, 11 years old at the time and now 21, has steadfastly proclaimed his innocence all of these years. Just a fifth grader at the time, he said he didnt understand of what he was being accused. And on 20/20 Adalynn said she woke up from a loud noise..she answers her moms phone goes to wake her up..she doesnt wake up..she goes outside & the tree trimmers help.. which would have been around 9am.. the other girl per the police reports said it was an ordinary morning. Those law enforcement officers who said that they smelled [that the gun] was recently fired, they conceded that they had no expertise or training, said Jordans attorney Dennis Elisco. Jordan Brown mug shot AP Photo/Lawrence County Prison via Beaver County Times. Evidence Popularised By A New Documentary And TikTok Theory Suggests An O.J. Police found several rounds of ammunition inside the family's farmhouse. Its been a nightmare for nine-and-a-half years, Chris Brown said. Cinnamon confessed to fatally shooting her step-mother and was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. I used to hate it. WAMPUM, Pa. -- Jordan Brown was 11 years old when he was arrested and initially charged as an adult for the murder of his pregnant, soon-to-be stepmother. Now 21, Brown, who spent more than. On June 13, 2016, more than seven years after his arrest, Jordan Brown was released from juvenile custody, two months before his 19th birthday. Her unborn son died as well. A judge finding a juvenile delinquent is effectively a guilty verdict. Early in the investigation, a number of people including Chris Brown told police they should look into another person -- Houks ex-boyfriend of six years, Adam Harvey. He is one. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Brown could be held in a juvenile rehabilitative treatment facility only until he turned 21 in August 2018. No way. Brown and Houk had known each other since they were teenagers and were planning to be married soon. He was almost 21 when Pennsylvania's highest court said prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to support a conviction. [1][14] The two Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices who did not participate had previously ruled in Jordan's favor on his earlier appeal while they had served as judges in the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Accidents happen, buddy. Emma Tustin, 32, murdered the boy by . When we interview someone, you expect them to give their account, wait a little while, we interview them again, and they should give the same account. But as far as his guiltiness, I know he is. He acknowledged to authorities that he and Houk had argued about money. And it was a boy. Wonder what the other children think of it all. The human-rights organization Amnesty International opposed the effort to try Jordan as an adult, citing the mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole penalty as a violation of international law. Inside the family's farmhouse, police had found handguns, rifles, several rounds of ammunition and a child-sized shotgun that belonged to Jordan. After the arrest, prosecutor John Bongivengo told reporters he was confident in his case against Jordan Brown. As the conversation petered out, she hugged mea stronger one than usual. I also thought it was hilarious how uncomfortable the big bald cop in the middle was. Throughout Jordan Browns stay in detention in Erie, his father continued to ask him whether he'd killed Houk. I think I have a good idea of the capacity's of each given their age range. She stood by her confession and . [7][8][9][10] Judge Hodge held that Brown's juvenile hearing would not be open to the public or to the news media. [12] Judge Hodge would announce Brown's disposition (the equivalent of a juvenile sentence) at a later date. She told WKBN that Brown has maintained his innocence from the beginning and expressed hopes for his future. Brown, who initially was charged as an . Dr. Stiles helped her overcome this fear and realize she wasn't like her mother. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://people.com/crime/jordan-brown-case-murder-kenzie-houk-interview-after-prison/. Martin said the autopsy report determined that Houk had been killed with a shotgun and she had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It's three feet long., Inside the Browns' farmhouse, police found a collection of handguns, rifles and several rounds of ammunition. Now 21, Brown, who spent more than seven . In Season Two of Guilt Ryan travels to Waiuku New Zealand in an attempt to . Had to bc this case fascinates me and I was looking for a good discussion on here and this is literally the only one I can find. CINCINNATI (FOX19) - A 28-year-old man was gunned down in Avondale late Wednesday, Cincinnati police said. They routinely shot on that property. The rest of their story: https://people.com/crime/jordan-brown-case-murder-kenzie-houk-interview-after-prison/. Houk, 26 and about eight months pregnant with Jordan's little brother, was found dead in her bed by her 4-year-old daughter on Feb. 20, 2009. Attorney Dennis Elisco told WPXIthat he believes the supreme court made the right call in exonerating Brown, whose record he believes will eventually be expunged. Both children were interviewed and, according to police, neither said anything out of the ordinary had happened that morning. I was happy. She was thrilled, thats what she wanted, Houks mother Debbie Houk told 20/20. The clothing was washed. Dispensary owner Alden Linn said the impact of Brown's death has been felt . I didnt care. However, Jordan said he remembered seeing a black truck near the garage. I am a step dad to twin 12 year old girls, a 7 year old and a 4 year old for the past 3 years. Eleven year-old shot and killed his father's pregnant fiancee, setting off a debate about trying him as an adult or a juvenile. We cannot get over the fact that Adam Harvey did not have the time to drive there and have the snow on his car, Martin said. 11 is not too young to wield a shotgun, and we dont know anything about his interactions with his dads fianc. Though Mr. Houk fully believes that Brown is the murderer, another possible suspect has been considered. I honestly believed that jordan was guilty/there was enough evidence to prove it and never thought much of it since. She feared him, Chris Brown said. [I'd say,] Jordan, listen, if something happens. It was appalling to me that they seemingly just ignored that fact throughout the case.. Brown was 11 years old when prosecutors said he shot 26-year-old Kenzie Houk, who was eight months pregnant, in the head and then went to school. This was way beyond shoddy police work! The justices attacked the evidence as insufficient and said that the juvenile trial evidence pointing to a shotgun in Brown's bedroom as the murder weapon supported an equally-reasonable conclusion that it was not the murder weapon. I believe that testimony, further more with: "She told officers she asked Jordan Brown about the source of the sound, but he would not answer. ". It's almost inconceivable that you could suggest that a shotgun was fired at close range wouldn't deposit any tissue, any blood on the barrel of the gun or on his clothing, which he wore to school, Elisco said. I would also like to hear more about the alternate suspect the lawyer speaks of. 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who killed jordan brown's stepmother 2023