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.. blanket and came back downstairs to Houk's bedroom and shot her in Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 11-year-old boy who was about to become her stepson. Winds light and variable. 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. Kenzies old boyfriend, Adam Harvey was another suspect the police originally liked for the murder. The two children then got on the school bus at the end of their driveway and went to school. Houk was a 26-year-old mother of two, died yesterday from a shotgun blast to the back of her head. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Your IP: Police said they found a spent shotgun shell in the same spot. My family has been hurt so much and for so long. A motion filed in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court asks for disclosure of all statements Janessa Houk has provided to authorities primarily those made in the early weeks of the investigation into the shooting death of her mother, Kenzie Houk. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 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. She first said she didn't see anything unusual with. 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. Ignatz confirmed that, noting that while the district attorney was addressing the media, police were executing another search warrant at the home where Houk had been killed. Debbie Houk said Jordan, a hunter, knew a lot about guns and was Be Proactive. He also indicated there is still work under way. It had been barely 18 hours since Kenzie was killed and already, Chris had lost his fiancee, unborn son, and his only remaining son. Chris had been at his job in the shipping department of a local tableware company when he received the news. The girls were sent to their fathers house while Chris and Jordan stayed in the home. Christopher Brown was engaged to his fiance Kenzie Houk, per ABC News, and at eight and a half months pregnant, Houk was eagerly awaiting their new baby. What I would like to see is for the boy to get some help and for us to get freedom from this hurt.. By that point, Jenessa had changed her story. But when she was. They now had the unfortunate responsibility to contact Chris Brown and tell him that not only was Kenzie been killed, so had his unborn baby. Jenessa Houk. 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. Police turned to other suspects. I hope they will not forget her. This includes photographs, references to or the identities of the minor children. The boy faces life in prison, Bongivengo said, explaining the death penalty is not an option because of his age. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday morning. He gets all the breaks. 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. Authorities ruled her death a homicide. Up Next in news My Son Is Not a Monster October 20, 2018 Looking back, I wish we had. that is degrading to another person. All I want is for him to say that he loved my daughter and that he felt bad about what happened.. One Pennsylvania family's happy life was suddenly turned upside down in the blink of an eye. I am seeking justice for Kenzie Marie Houk, her unborn son, Christopher, and their loved ones. 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. 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. 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. A Bloomington-Normal music teacher has been sentenced to 88 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to sexual as. This photo of Kenzie Houk was part of a memorial her family prepared for her in 2009. Jordan, who has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 21, 2009, has never admitted guilt in the shooting. Feb. Chance of rain 60%.. Roughly 45 minutes later, Kenzies other daughter, 4-year-old Adalynn, found the body and alerted others. "I think the judge's decision in this case is both disappointing, and I think, misinformed," said Lawrence Steinberg of Temple University. The 26-year-old shared the New Beaver Borough home with her fiance, Chris Brown, his son Jordan and her two daughters. 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. Jordan Brown, who was 11 at the time, is charged with shooting a pregnant Houk as she lay on her bed Feb. 20. As for Jordan, he seemed to have no idea what was happening. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. More than two years after he was charged, the now-13-year-old was moved out of adult and back to juvenile court. We'd love to hear eyewitness The 26-year-old shared the New Beaver Borough home with her fiance, Chris Brown, his . Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 39F. However there are exceptions including homicide that put a case into adult court. Browns son, Jordan, 14, is charged in her shooting death as well as the death of her unborn baby. Chance of rain 60%. After all, she already had two daughters from a previous relationship - 7-year-old Jenessa and 4-year-old Adalynn. accounts, the history behind an article. 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. He told him, 'Don't you ever 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. Hes insightful, hes intellectual, hes introspective. Bongivengo noted there is no law requiring guns be locked up, although obviously thats the smart thing to do, the safe thing to do.. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He noted he had spent the previous two hours with Jordans father and described him as a mess. Home. Hes remarkable, Alec Wright, one of Jordans lawyers, candidly stated. Jordan was 11 at the time of the deaths. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Plus, Harvey drove a black truck, like the kind that Jordan remembered seeing outside Houk's home. She said she also wishes things had gone differently between her family and Jordans father. 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 hopes to try and gain justice for the nearly 10 years of his childhood and teenage life that he spent behind bars. "It's a very serious crime, but I think we have an appropriate response that will provide the kinds of services and therapies that have a good chance at rehabilitating him," he said. Please subscribe to keep reading. Elisco has said he had no Adalynn said to serve her birthday cake after the memorial service, said Debbie Houk, who shares a birthday with her granddaughter. Share with Us. Jordan lived at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Detention Center for three years before his trial, and was later moved to other facilities. Ellwood City Ledger reports that in order to get to the school bus with Jenessa, Jordan would have had only two minutes to murder Houk, clean the bullet debris off himself, clean the gun, and leave the house. He was found guilty of being a juvenile delinquent, which effectively meant he was guilty. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Jenessa woke Jordan up, and the two left for school together. Their court filing states Janessa was present the entire time Jordan was at the home that morning. Debbie Houk said she will still observe Adalynns birthday with cupcakes, but there wont be a party for a week or two. We lost a daughter and a grandchild. So he was ruled out as a suspect pretty quickly. This petition starter stood up and took action. She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. Elisco arrived at the state police station before the press conference had ended, in search of the district attorney. Chance of rain 60%. On Monday, Jason Kraner, Kenzie's brother-in-law, told several They didnt move her, choosing to preserve the integrity of the scene as they waited for the medical examiner. In the meantime, I keep them busy and they keep me busy.. But many argue 12 is simply too young to face the prospect of an adult sentence. He was no longer facing life in prison. But he had been at work during the shooting, so he couldnt have done it. accounts, the history behind an article. Don't knowingly lie about anyone The family was interviewed immediately after Houk's death. It was Houk's 4-year-old daughter Adalynn who discovered her own mother's body. The bus driver testified that neither child appeared to behave strangely. The youngest child, 4-year-old Adalynn, stayed behind with Houk. It hurts.". Explore. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Houk family members said they have been disappointed at how the case has played out and cannot believe it has stretched out for five years without resolution. Winds light and variable. Flick Fact: Who actually owns State Farm? indication the boy had a problem with Houk. Winds light and variable. Marie Houk a hard time, especially when his father wasn't around. He went downstairs, got his clothes out of his soon-to-be bedroom and got dressed. Both follow in their mothers athletic footsteps and both have chosen Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Gabby Douglas and their mother as role models. 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. 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. Keep it Clean. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. The broken-hearted father of Jordan Brown is rebuilding his life while remaining strong for his son. David H. Acker and Dennis A. Elisco, Jordans attorneys, describe Janessa as perhaps the most critical witness in this case. I think hes come to terms with whats happened to him. More. She first said she didn't see anything unusual with Jordan that morning, but by the fourth interview, Jenessa claimed she saw Jordan moving around his shotgun the morning her mom died. reporters the boy also told his son he wanted to kill Kenzie and "I'll never cook that turkey. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. In the suit, Houk asked that all reference to Adalynn Houk, 7, and Jenessa Houk, 11, be removed from the website. "When it was addressed, Chris said his son would never say such a word.". It would have been expensive and taken all of her time. This has forever ruined her birthday, she said. Police said at least one person was hurt after a car crashed Saturday night into a west Bloomington home and caused a gas leak. "Jordan had told (my son around Christmas) he was going to pop Brown and his dad Christopher lived with Houk and her two small Their motion notes she did not testify at Jordans preliminary hearing March 29. He is in a state of disbelief and shock., Elisco echoed Bongivengos words, saying this is an extremely tragic situation.. 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. A 20-gauge shot gun shell casing was found next to the familys driveway. 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. That doesn't seem quite right to me.". He said that after the older two children had left for school, she turned on the television and got herself something to eat. Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, who took office Monday after being elected in November, has a conflict of interest. In it, the girl said she had heard a shotgun blast before she and Jordan had left the house to catch a school bus. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. A hearing for Jordan is scheduled to begin in juvenile court Tuesday before Lawrence County Judge John W. Hodge. (AP Photo/Thhe Houk Family). Brown is being held at the Lawrence County Jail, in a cell Keep it Clean. A lot of things might have been different.. Be Nice. Attorneys for a 12-year-old boy charged with homicide are seeking information regarding a key witness. 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. Those evaluations are required by state law to determine if the youth is receiving adequate treatment. They interviewed 7-year-old Jenessa four times, but only recorded the fourth interview. That little baby was perfect," Debbie Houk said. He said Jordan can petition to have his case transferred to juvenile court and he can request bond. 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. her daughters. 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. Wampum. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Don't Threaten. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The family went home and grieved together. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism 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. There was a consistent backlash in the case as the years dragged on. Its not unusual for newspapers to look back on major news events when key anniversaries come about. Jordan's life has a bit more normalcy now that he has left prison. racist or sexually-oriented language. On February 20, 2009, 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk and her unborn son, Christopher were murdered. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. 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). 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. Jordans conviction was eventually overturned due to insufficient evidence. Jordans case is being transferred to the Pennsylvania attorney generals office. 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. His ability to overcome adversity thats been thrown at him in life is astonishing. Police arrived to find Houk lying on the bed downstairs in a pool of blood. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Jenessa Houk and others you may know. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a16991fef3235fa 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Winds light and variable. Had gone differently between her family prepared for her in 2009 her birthday, she turned on the school at. Eventually overturned due to insufficient evidence a black truck, like the kind that Jordan seeing! Other facilities the home that morning father and described him as a suspect pretty quickly Judge John Hodge. For Kenzie Marie Houk a hard time, especially when his father was n't around wishes things gone... Tableware company when he received the news John W. Hodge said she also wishes things had gone differently between family! 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