I mean, I think theway it happened is B.S., Jordan said on 20/20. Im innocent. Lamancusa revealed he had provided unspecified legal advice to Jordans father, Christopher Brown. 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. Christopher Brown, Jordan's dad, was working at the time, so he had an alibi (perABC News). Bongivengo pointed to that information as the reason for the second charge homicide of an unborn child. You have permission to edit this article. Jordan said he had seen a black truck near his house that morning, but he didn't think anything of it at the time. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Bloomington woman charged with battery of BPD officer, 1 killed in crash on Interstate 55 in McLean County, Rivian employee alleges racial discrimination in federal lawsuit, Kindred: Former Bloomington star DMitri Dunson-Riggs giving back to game he loves, Illinois State Fair announces 2023 theme days, Chenoa man sentenced to 6 years for attempted child porn. Keep it Clean. 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. Jordan had even begun referring to Kenzie as mom. He was happy to have a little brother and would even have his own room once the baby was born. He said the two were removed from school by state police after officers had learned of Houks death. According to the attorneys, her original two statements to police indicated she noticed nothing unusual. "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.'". Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, 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. 2009. Roughly 45 minutes later, Kenzie's other daughter, 4-year-old Adalynn, found the body and alerted others. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Janessa told police that shed recalled seeing Jordan moving his guns that morning before school. Jenessa Houk - PA Track and Field results and photos on Athletic.net He also didnt seem to know where Kenzie lived. Police arrived to find Houk lying on the bed downstairs in a pool of blood. God bless those khakis! accounts, the history behind an article. Use the 'Report' link on Jack Houk, who noted he has developed health issues that may be the result of stress, said, Every day I think of my daughter. Keep it Clean. Jenessa is a cheerleader for football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team. As an 11-year-old, Jordan was held at Edmund Thomas Adolescent Center in Erie County, Pennsylvania, until he stood trial. Meanwhile, Chris Brown was fighting for his childs innocence and lost his job because of it. 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. If either child spoke to anyone at school about the incident, or gave any indication that anything was not normal, Bongivengo said, he was not aware of it. 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. Be Truthful. Elisco has said he had no Your IP: Jenessa woke Jordan up, and the two left for school together. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. He's not there with the Boy Scouts. Threats of harming another Authorities believe the killing was premeditated. And I'll say it." https://abcn.ws/2R0eTRJ But police said that Jordan later changed his story, adding additional details about a man inside the truck. Due to tough-on-crime laws, Pennsylvania has more juveniles sentenced to life in prison without parole than any other state. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Plus, he cannot be recharged with the same offense, according to the court's ruling, according to New Castle News. Don't Threaten. Join Facebook to connect with Jenessa Houk and others you may know. Their photos should not be on the Internet., More in TIMELINE: Jordan Brown case (36of59). In addition, Houks daughter said she also witnessed Brown drop something on the ground from his pocket before they got on the bus, which was where the spent shotgun shell was found. Authorities ruled her death a homicide. The girls were sent to their fathers house while Chris and Jordan stayed in the home. Kenzies old boyfriend, Adam Harvey was another suspect the police originally liked for the murder. She said she also wishes things had gone differently between her family and Jordans father. Its just not fair for the Houks, Jack Houk said. Be Proactive. Jordan Anthony Brown got on a school bus Friday morning and spent part of his day in Mohawks fifth grade. We dont celebrate.. Investigators believed with substantial evidence, that the son of Houk . They say they remember that. mitsubishi rpm problem It sounded to her like a gunshot, but when Jordan appeared none the worse for wear, he didnt think anything of it. 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). and her unborn baby boy the day before as she lay in her bed. Stay at Home shutterstock.com If convicted, he could become the youngest person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Feb. As a result of this attack, both she and her unborn child passed, but Jordan was apprehended the very next day. After all, he has post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] due to this. Use the 'Report' link on We didnt do it, Debbie Houk said. Houk was a 26-year-old mother of two, died yesterday from a shotgun blast to the back of her head. came downstairs with two guns, but returned upstairs after Houk's The morning of Feb. 20, 2009, workers cutting trees in New Beaver Borough were surprised to . Before leaving office this week, John Bongivengo, the former district attorney, opposed the motion. The declaration did not declare him innocent but it did mean he couldnt be retried. According to ABC News, the Supreme Court determined that there was not enough evidence to say with certainty that Jordan had committed the crime. Winds light and variable. Not only that, but Janessa recalled waiting in the living room for Jordan when she heard a big boom echo through the house. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 11-year-old boy who was about to become her stepson. I dont want pity, but sometimes I get so angry.. A Bloomington-Normal music teacher has been sentenced to 88 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to sexual as. Bongivengo who said no bond is normal in a homicide case noted the boy is segregated at the jail. 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. His ability to overcome adversity thats been thrown at him in life is astonishing. The 26-year-old shared the New Beaver Borough home with her fiance, Chris Brown, his . 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. Be Truthful. 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. So how and why was Jordan finally exonerated? Low 39F. The fetus was viable and the death of the mother caused the death of the baby.. PITTSBURGH - An 11-year-old boy accused of killing his father's The boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, did not immediately return a All we hear is how wonderfully hes doing academically, Jack Houk said. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. blanket and came back downstairs to Houk's bedroom and shot her in Since she was a little girl and in pure shock, the police couldn't interrogate her. At eight months pregnant, the 26-year-old mother of two was sleeping in the Wampum, Pennsylvania, home she shared with them, her new fianc Chris Brown, and his son Jordan Brown, when she was shot right in the back of the head. The Houks and police point to overwhelming evidence they say will prove that Jordan is the killer, including gun residue found on his shirt, a fresh shell casting found outside as well as the testimony of Houk's 7-year-old daughter who says she saw Jordan with the gun. The defense had requested disclosure of any statements Janessa had provided that day and in the days leading up to the hearing. This petition starter stood up and took action. Martin waited for another officer to arrive and then went with him into the bedroom. Don't knowingly lie about anyone (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. Pregnant Mothers Murder Leads Police to Arrest Her Step-Son, Man Finds Old Buried Chain, His Gut Then Tells Him To Keep Pulling, Homeless Man Sues Burger King For a Million Dollars, Over 3 Months Spent In Jail Without Proof, She Looked Like She Was Pregnant With 30 Puppies, Then Vet Gives Mom The X-Ray, 10-Year-Old Boys Sentenced To Life In Prison After Child Goes Missing, Daughter Wakes Up To Serial Killer Sitting at The End Of Her Bed, Woman In Coma for 3 Weeks Wakes Up To Learn Her Family Pulled the Plug on Her, Missing Alabama Mother Found In The Woods After Sister Discovers Her Car, NFL Star Murders Girlfriend After Heated Argument Then Pulls Trigger on Himself. 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. Im not religious, but this is what were told to do. It's the same gun that killed my Cloudy skies after midnight. Don't Threaten. 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. Be Nice. The boy faces life in prison, Bongivengo said, explaining the death penalty is not an option because of his age. 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. "I think the judge's decision in this case is both disappointing, and I think, misinformed," said Lawrence Steinberg of Temple University. 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. Ive never received the answers I want. Last year, Jordan Brown, now 12, was charged with murdering Kenzie Houk, his father's eight-and-a-half month pregnant fiancee while she was asleep. She was good with people.. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Despite the fact that the blended family had only just moved in together, they seemed to be bonding well. Police say she initially said nothing unusual happened that morning before school. "Mentally, he's gotten quite an education there," Brown said of the 13-months his son has spent in the facility. A Pennsylvania judge ruled last month that the boy will be tried as an adult. something on the ground from his pocket before they got on the bus. that is degrading to another person. It wasnt that Kenzie was worried about the pregnancy, she was ready to have the baby and had plenty of practice being a mom. Be Nice. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 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, 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. (AP Photo/Lawence County Prison via Beaver County Times Lawrence County Prison via Beave Brown. But he had been at work during the shooting, so he couldnt have done it. 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. 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. Kenzie Houk's mom Debbie Houk tells #ABC2020 her family remains convinced Jordan Brown is guilty: "Jordan is a murderer. In 2011, Amnesty International released a statement saying that due to Brown's age, his human rights were being violated, because he faced a lifetime in prison for something he was accused of in childhood. But in the five years since the shooting, Jordan has not received the help he needs, she said. The decision was the biggest setback yet for the Brown family. A Bloomington native is in the running to be the next face of Inked magazine. Their court filing states Janessa was present the entire time Jordan was at the home that morning. 85 Followers, 146 Following, 13 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from jenessa houk (@cheer1jenessa) However she was at the courthouse that day, they said, where she was interviewed by members of the district attorneys office and possibly members of the Pennsylvania state police prior to the hearing. Share with Us. Well, it was not an easy road for the Brown family. Wampum. He was found guilty of being a juvenile delinquent, which effectively meant he was guilty. Kenzie Houks family is coming along since she was taken from them five years ago. her daughters. Houk is the legal guardian of her granddaughters. Chance of rain 60%.. PETE SIRIANNI | NEWS; May 18, 2018 May 18, 2018 Updated May 18, 2018; 0; Shenango's Jenessa Houk competes in the discus finals during the WPIAL championship meet at Baldwin High . More than two years after he was charged, the now-13-year-old was moved out of adult and back to juvenile court. David H. Acker and Dennis A. Elisco, Jordans attorneys, describe Janessa as perhaps the most critical witness in this case. At first, it appeared that Kenzie had some sort of medical emergency related to the pregnancy. 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. 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. "The boys and girls, the kids that he's with, they're pretty harsh kids. We'd love to hear eyewitness After all, she already had two daughters from a previous relationship - 7-year-old Jenessa and 4-year-old Adalynn. Right now, Jenessa Houk lives in New Castle, PA. Jenessa maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Kenneth Lauffer, Genevie Kelch, Stephanie Lauffer, Sherri Shaffer and Harold Cross. It was in that downstairs bedroom that Kenzie had been sleeping in that morning, simply because it was easier. 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. after his father, was planned for Tuesday evening. to get the boy released. By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. 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. He and Jordan finally felt vindicated in their assertions that Jordan hadnt committed that terrible crime. He hopes to try and gain justice for the nearly 10 years of his childhood and teenage life that he spent behind bars. In the meantime, I keep them busy and they keep me busy.. or anything. 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). You have permission to edit this article. The youngest child, 4-year-old Adalynn, stayed behind with Houk. View the profiles of people named Janessa Houk. For Houk's daughters Jenessa and Adalynn, they face a life without a mother. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The judgment was that the evidence against Jordan was insufficient and circumstantial, so he was exonerated and can never be retried in the matter. New Beaver Borough home with her fiance, Chris Brown was fighting for his childs innocence lost... For football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team life jenessa houk interview... 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