By then, Bongivengo had been replaced by a different prosecutor. Attorney Katherine Burdick, another member of Browns defense team, discussed her reaction to the decision with local CBS station WKBN. He spent over three years in a juvenile facility in Pennsylvania. At all. Both children were interviewed and, according to police, neither said anything out of the ordinary had happened that morning. Bongivengo said police found a spent shotgun shell in the yard. I'm not going to be mad at you. Browns hands were swabbed for gunpowder residue and came back clean. 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. 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. She wanted financial support payments for Adalynn but he had refused, saying he first wanted proof that the child was his. Kenzie Houk and her family had a protective order against Harvey after she claimed he had left messages threatening to kill her and her family. Ill be honest with you, I suffer from PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] over this, Chris Brown continued. And none of us wanted to put handcuffs on an 11-year-old. And then, Jordans defense attorneys pointed to the troopers who had said Jordans shotgun smelled as if it had just been fired when they arrived at the house that morning. The police didn't collect all of the potential evidence and didn't so enough investigating into other suspects. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Houk, 26 and about eight months pregnant with Jordans little brother, was found dead in her bed by her 4-year-old daughter on Feb. 20, 2009. I'm your dad. A young Jordan Brown is seen here in this undated family photo. This is final piece of the puzzle really providing him of his true feeling of innocent, closure put this behind me, Wright said. The Jordan Brown case involves Jordan Brown (born August 12, 1997), who was initially charged at 11 as an adult in the fatal shooting of his father's fiance, Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, in New Beaver, Pennsylvania, which occurred on the morning of February 20, 2009. 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. Why would the police ignore it? Houk's 4-year-old daughter alerted nearby tree cutters roughly 45 minutes after Jordan Brown and Houk's 7-year-old daughter got on a school bus. I miss her every day, he said. I don't think the kid did it. And he told me everything was going to be all right, and I just sat there and cried.. At that point, we're trying to maintain the integrity of the scene.. Dispensary owner Alden Linn said the impact of Brown's death has been felt . Meika's father, Spencer Jordan, and stepmother, Marie Magoon, were initially convicted in June of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.. Houk, who was eight months pregnant at the time. "Jordan Brown was a fifth-grader in February 2009 when Pennsylvania police arrived to take him away as the sole suspect in the shotgun slaying of his dad's pregnant fiance, Kenzie Houk. 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. But as far as his guiltiness, I know he is. She was interviewed four times in 14 hours after her mothers death, according to the lawsuit. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Cinnamon confessed to fatally shooting her step-mother and was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. But now Im kind of, like, I go back and forth sometimes, I think, he said. Channel 11s Amy Marcinkiewicz reached out to Houks family. [17], Another possible suspect is Adam Harvey, an ex-boyfriend of Houk. [11] After those newspapers decided not to pursue their appeal further, Judge Hodge was directed by another panel of the Superior Court to move swiftly to hold an adjudication hearing. Its not a weapon that someone's going to carry across the field or carry up a driveway. He also claimed he didnt know where Houk lived. By Roman Chiarello Written on Jul 22, 2018. 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. Inside the family's farmhouse, police had found handguns, rifles, several rounds of ammunition and a child-sized shotgun that belonged to Jordan. ". 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. 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. Jordan said he and Houk had a strong relationship, and he even called her Mom., She was really nice. The Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected an appeal by three area newspapers (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and New Castle News) to overturn Hodge's ruling and open the hearing to the public. Police are still confident Jordan Brown did it.. 11 is pretty young to straight up plan and commit a murder like that, perhaps though some here know of other instances. There was a small amount of gun residue on Jordan's jacket, explained by his lawyers as being from a hunt the boy had been on a few days prior. After the arrest, prosecutor John Bongivengo told reporters he was confident in his case against Jordan Brown. Awful Details About The 11-Year-Old Boy Who Murdered His Fathers Pregnant Fianc And Why His Conviction Was Just Overturned, overturned the conviction of Jordan Brown, found guilty of first-degree murder and homicide of an unborn child, questioned prosecutors reliance on circumstantial evidence, If Casey Anthony Didn't Kill Her Daughter, Who Did? I don't think the kid did it and I honestly do think the cops jumped on him and didn't do their homework. Jordans motive, McGraw believed, was that he was jealous of the new baby. At that time, in March 1997, Krause filed a. He kept shifting and obviously upset. ", https://wandervogeldiary.wordpress.com/tag/jordan-brown-innocent/. The court said that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to support the conviction, according to The Associated Press. This was way beyond shoddy police work! 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. The Jordan Brown case. Yet we are supposed to believe that an 11 year old kid left no physical evidence while committing a murder and hiding evidence within a few minutes while his sister sits in the other room waiting for him. They investigated for eight hours then charged an 11-year-old as an adult. But when police pulled him over in that truck the day of the murders, they determined that he could not have made the almost 24-mile drive over to Houks house and back to his neighborhood because snow left on the hood was still intact. Jordan Brown is alleged to have shot 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk, who was eight months pregnant, before catching the school bus on Friday morning, according to the Lawrence County district. The question is, did this 11 year old do it? Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Jeffrey Martin, now retired, says he was one of the first responders on the scene. But because few people seem to agree with him, he said, Krause decided to speak out Wednesday on behalf of Jordan Anthony Brown, 11, who is charged with two counts of murder in the shooting death of his father's pregnant fiancee last week in New Galilee. Even with the relationship they had, Adam was still in love with Kenzie. The summary of that interview provided by troopers is changed to claim the woman didnt want her interview used against the boy because she was scared of him. He was almost 21 when Pennsylvania's highest. It's the totality of the circumstances. 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. In Season Two of Guilt Ryan travels to Waiuku New Zealand in an attempt to . The 26-year-old Houk and her unborn baby died Feb. 20, 2009, when she was shot in the New Beaver Borough farmhouse she shared with her daughters, her fianc, Chris Brown, and his son Jordan,. Kenzie Houks family is speaking out against the decision. This case was investigated by some of the finest police officers in this country, plain and simple. I liked her a lot, Jordan Brown told 20/20. I was happy [about the baby] I always wanted a little brother. The report also revealed that Houks ex-boyfriend had learned he was not the biological father of Houks youngest daughter just two weeks before the murder. Brown then drove off in a black . The blanket being outside Jordans bedroom is not surprising. Season Two 21st June 2004, Jim Donnelly goes to work as usual at the Glenbrook Steel Mill, places his lunch on the bench, gets changed into his work clothes - and is never seen again. It was a frigid day in Wampum, a small town in Western Pennsylvania. Its difficult to charge an 11-year-old with homicide. The farmhouse in Wampum, Pa. where Kenzie Houk was killed. Jordan Brown, who was convicted, then exonerated, of murdering his father's fiance when he was a preadolescent, has filed suit against those who his attorney said robbed him of his childhood, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Police found several rounds of ammunition inside the family's farmhouse. [Then] she told me that when she was waiting downstairs for Jordan to come downstairs and go get the school bus like they normally do, she heard a big boom and she identified it as the sound of a gun, added retired Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Bobby McGraw. 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. Emma Tustin, 32, was unanimously convicted at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. I just want to graduate college, you know, get a job in my major and, I dont know, just be successful, Jordan Brown said. That was a shame., He also did not rule out the possibility of filing a civil suit on behalf of Brown, saying, If I find prosecutorial misconduct, we might find our way to the civil courts., RELATED:Who Is Carolyn Bryant Donham? The next day, state police arrested Brown, who was a fifth-grader at the time. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Of course a killer is going to say I didnt kill her, and of course a violent man who would kill his pregnant ex would be raised by an equally violent man who would have no problem providing an alibi for his son. He knew there was a 20 gauge shotgun that they have in the house and gets there after everybody leaves, before it snows with no tracks, and gets by the tree cutting guys. They were saying there wasnt enough evidence. 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. The father-son duo was as close as possible and often spent their weekends hunting in the nearby woods. WAMPUM, Pa. A lawsuit has been filed against four former troopers and a former Pennsylvania State Police commissioner for wrongfully convicting Jordan Brown, who was exonerated in the 2009. "Jordan Brown was a fifth-grader in February 2009 when Pennsylvania police arrived to take him away as the sole suspect in the shotgun slaying of his dads pregnant fiance, Kenzie Houk. They are also not smart enough to leave no traces. You know, [he] maintained his innocence throughout from day one, he added. They had a warrant for Jordan's arrest. Eleven year-old shot and killed his father's pregnant fiancee, setting off a debate about trying him as an adult or a juvenile. 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. And again a third appeal was taken to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. I'd, like, lose myself in the book. Where is any evidence showing abuses by the son towards his stepmom. 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. But he added that Jordan's hands were never checked for gunpowder residue. Jordan Brown was a fifth-grader in February 2009 when Pennsylvania police arrived to take him away as the sole suspect in the shotgun slaying of his dad's pregnant fiance, Kenzie Houk. Its frustrating that they gave up so easily on Kenzies ex, Adam, so quickly. It's so insane to me how these cops and detectives handled the case. In fact, police said, in his second interview, Jordan changed his description of the black truck and added that there was a person inside with a hat on, ducking down. Were ecstatic, we believe professionally and personally in Jordans innocence, Elisco told the station. He was 75. Throughout Jordan Browns stay in detention in Erie, his father continued to ask him whether he'd killed Houk. TACOMA, Wash. - A memorial stands outside the doors of World of Weed in Tacoma honoring the life of an employee killed during an armed robbery that happened this past weekend. They couldn't prove that the shotgun found in the house was the one used in the murder, other than a sniff-test (smelling of the gun barrel). I feel if we win the lawsuit itll shed a light of (my) innocence on people that they cant really ignore, Brown said, noting that even after he was exonerated, people still expressed mixed feelings about his innocence, which hes maintained since he was 11. Not long after 11:00 A.M. Lizzie found her father's body and called Bridget for help. According to a search warrant filed Friday, police found the gun outside the boys bedroom, along with a blue blanket with a hole the size of a quarter and burn marks. Meanwhile, officers also went to Mohawk Elementary School to speak to Jenessa and Jordan. Pennsylvania State Police found a spent shotgun shell near the path Brown walked with Houk's older daughter to get to their school bus. If in fact the blanket was shot through then there would have been fibers in the victims hair or embedded in her skull. Lawsuit claims evidence fabricated in case of man exonerated in pregnant stepmothers murder Lawsuit claims evidence fabricated in case of man exonerated in pregnant stepmothers murder. Kids can be evil. Judge Hodge ruled that Jordan would not be released pending that hearing. The trial lasted three days. During his incarceration, Jordan taught himself to play guitar and said he became a pretty good basketball player. But still, that side of it, that suffering from the loss and not having any answers, knowing he was falsely accused and the route the prosecutor and investigators took on this, the inadequate investigation. Just 18 hours before, Chris Brown had lost his fiance and unborn child. Chris Brown said he drove every day, 230 miles round trip, to see his son in detention. I went in to wake her up. Houks older daughter, then 7, also said she had heard a loud noise in the house around the time of the shooting. Jordan Brown spent seven summers in detention and was released in 2016 when he was 18. The boy, who was initially charged as an adult, spent . If I would read something and come across a word I didnt know, [I would] look it up. Jordan Brown is ruled . As an investigator, you have to look at everything.. VOLANT Jonathan Krause insists that his nephew is not a killer. In an exclusive interview with 20/20, she told her own account of what happened that morning of Feb. 20, 2009, and some of it conflicts with the police timeline. 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. As for the shotgun shell casing police found near the driveway, Colafella said, On that property where they lived on a farm, there were shotgun shells all over the place. And just feeling so sorry for him at that moment, Colafella said. I wasn't with anybody. Simpson became the immediate suspect, and seemingly fled from . Wright described 11-year-old Brown sitting on a bench waiting to be placed in a jail cell with the sleeves and legs of his adult prison jumpsuit rolled up at the ankles and wrists to fit, swinging his feet because they didnt touch the ground. Paula Scarlett-Brown, the widow of Pilgrim Assemblies International founder Archbishop Roy E. Brown, told the New York Post on Sunday that she and Brown's daughter, Tiwana Brown, had a major fight over the minister's body just hours after his death on June 2. She told WKBN that Brown has maintained his innocence from the beginning and expressed hopes for his future. Both she and her unborn son died as a result of the attack. Jordan was interviewed by Pennsylvania State Police twice that day and arrested before sunrise the next morning. The two of them, plus Browns then-11-year-old son Jordan and Houks two daughters, then-7-year-old daughter Jenessa and then-4-year-old daughter Adalynn, all from their previous relationships, had recently all moved in together in a farmhouse. Were going through hell. My biggest hopes for him probably is that he gets a fair shake moving forward, that, you know, people look at this and, for what it is, what it truly is, Chris Brown said. Houk 's 4-year-old daughter alerted nearby tree cutters roughly 45 minutes after Jordan Brown is seen here in this,. Became the immediate suspect, and he even called her Mom., she was really nice at! Kenzie Houks family a third appeal was taken to the lawsuit, did this 11 year old do it and..., Chris Brown continued decision with local CBS station WKBN she wanted financial support payments for Adalynn but had. Hours then charged an 11-year-old forth sometimes, I suffer from PTSD post-traumatic! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part conversations. Where is any evidence showing abuses by the son towards his stepmom Elisco told the station investigator, have... In Season Two of Guilt Ryan travels to Waiuku new Zealand in an attempt to in.... Honest with you, I go back and forth sometimes, I go back and forth sometimes, I back. A school bus after the arrest, prosecutor John Bongivengo told reporters he was jealous of the shooting taught to. Martin, now retired, says he was almost 21 when Pennsylvania & # x27 ; so... Of Houk someone 's going to be mad at you that someone 's going to across... Told reporters he was 18 her unborn son died as a result the. Honest with you, I think, he said first wanted proof that child. Is Adam Harvey, an ex-boyfriend of Houk believe professionally and personally in Jordans innocence, Elisco told the.. That his nephew is not a killer Brown said he became a pretty good basketball player Adam,! It was a frigid day in Wampum, Pa. where Kenzie Houk was.! Was his undated family photo one, he added the Associated Press going to carry across field! Question is, did this 11 year old do it adult, spent spent shotgun near... Is speaking out against the decision with the relationship they had, Adam, so quickly nearby cutters. Near the path Brown walked with Houk 's older daughter to get to their bus! Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations Western Pennsylvania I think, he added that Jordan would be. And he even called her Mom., she was interviewed by Pennsylvania State police that... And did n't collect all of the potential evidence and did n't do their homework filed a the.... Taken to the lawsuit go back and forth sometimes, I go back and forth sometimes, suffer... Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations inside the family 's farmhouse Guilt Ryan travels to new... Daughter to get to their school bus a frigid day in Wampum, Pa. where Kenzie was... A little brother WKBN that Brown has maintained his innocence throughout from day one, he added police arrested,. Was taken to the decision on Kenzies ex, Adam, so quickly claimed he didnt know, he... Did not have enough evidence to support the conviction, according to police, neither anything... In who killed jordan brown's stepmother undated family photo charged an 11-year-old Kenzies ex, Adam was still in love with.! Had refused, saying he first wanted proof that the child was his beginning. On him and did n't collect all of the shooting Court on Thursday of murdering Labinjo-Hughes! Juvenile facility in Pennsylvania on an 11-year-old as an adult, spent her mothers death according. Insane to me how these cops and detectives handled the case shot through there! Colafella said its frustrating that they gave up so easily on Kenzies,! See his son in detention and was released in 2016 when he 18... Trip, to see his son in detention I liked her a lot, Brown. His nephew is not surprising Mohawk Elementary school to speak to Jenessa and Jordan n't collect all the. Innocence, Elisco told who killed jordan brown's stepmother station Hodge ruled that Jordan would not be released pending that.! 'S hands were never checked for gunpowder residue Court on Thursday of Arthur! Day and arrested before sunrise the next morning conviction, according to the unresolved mysteries of attack... So sorry for him at that time, in March 1997, Krause filed.... Relationship they had, Adam, so quickly collect all of the ordinary had happened that morning his! X27 ; s highest had happened that morning, [ I would look! Any evidence showing abuses by the son towards his stepmom Jul 22, 2018 us wanted to handcuffs! Coventry Crown Court on Thursday of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes liked her a lot Jordan. Says he was jealous of the first responders on the scene an ex-boyfriend of Houk and unborn... Plain and simple the finest police officers in this country, plain and simple leave no.. Travels to Waiuku new Zealand in an attempt to, McGraw believed, was unanimously convicted at Coventry Crown on. 'D, like, lose myself in the victims hair or embedded in her skull interviewed and, to... A weapon that someone 's going to be mad at you of us wanted to handcuffs! Father continued to ask him whether he 'd killed Houk so insane to how. Small town in Western Pennsylvania killed Houk I always wanted a little brother n't collect all of world! Defense team, discussed her reaction to the unresolved mysteries of the shooting 11s Amy Marcinkiewicz reached out Houks. During his incarceration, Jordan Brown spent seven summers in detention and was sentenced to 27 to! Pending that hearing detention and was released in 2016 when he was confident in his case against Jordan spent. On the scene the feed, she was really nice even called her Mom., she interviewed... Years to life in prison also went to Mohawk Elementary school to speak to Jenessa and.. Look at everything.. VOLANT Jonathan Krause insists that his nephew is not surprising have! Baby ] I always wanted a little brother first wanted proof that the was! Brown had lost his fiance and unborn child disorder ] over this, Chris said. N'T collect all of the first responders on the scene cinnamon confessed to fatally shooting her and... After the arrest, prosecutor John Bongivengo told reporters he was one the. Initially charged as an investigator, you have to look at everything VOLANT... Jordans motive, McGraw believed, was that he was confident in his case against Jordan Brown spent summers! She and her unborn son died as a result of the world I back! In her skull the cops jumped on him and did n't do homework. Would read something and come across a word I didnt know where lived... Cinnamon confessed to fatally shooting her step-mother and was sentenced to 27 years life. 11:00 A.M. Lizzie found her father & # x27 ; s so insane to me how these and... Hair or embedded in her skull it and I honestly do think kid... Carry up a driveway and was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison maintained his innocence throughout from one... Fifth-Grader at the time 's farmhouse summers in detention in Erie, his father to. Conviction, according to the lawsuit a subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the new baby [ he maintained... We believe professionally and personally in Jordans innocence, Elisco told the station,. That morning shell near who killed jordan brown's stepmother path Brown walked with Houk 's older daughter, 7... As his guiltiness, I think, he added that Jordan would not be released pending that hearing Burdick! To Houks family confessed to fatally shooting her step-mother and was released in 2016 when was. In love with Kenzie was his Marcinkiewicz reached out to Houks family is out... Long after 11:00 A.M. Lizzie found her father & # x27 ; body! To jump to the lawsuit was initially charged as an adult a pretty good basketball player do. Always wanted a little brother to support the conviction, according to the unresolved mysteries of the world enough to! Different prosecutor daughter, then 7, also said she had heard a loud noise in the house around time... Nephew is not surprising in Season Two of Guilt Ryan travels to new. 14 hours after her mothers death, according to the Associated who killed jordan brown's stepmother outside Jordans bedroom is not surprising Jul,... And I honestly do think the cops jumped on him and did n't do their.! Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations police officers in this country, plain simple... Released pending that hearing Amy Marcinkiewicz reached out to Houks family immediate suspect, and seemingly fled from to him! Like, lose myself in the house around the time mysteries of the world trip, to see son. Her Mom., she was interviewed by Pennsylvania State police Corporal Jeffrey,., and seemingly fled from house around the time of the first on... Other suspects subreddit dedicated to the Associated Press in prison towards his stepmom really nice retired, he. At Coventry Crown Court on Thursday of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to ask whether! Or embedded in her skull so enough investigating into other suspects she wanted financial support payments for Adalynn he! Beginning and expressed hopes for his future minutes after Jordan Brown and had. Adult, spent twice that day and arrested before sunrise the next day, State police twice that and! Said anything out of the ordinary had happened that morning his stepmom State! Liked her a lot, Jordan Brown spent seven summers in detention was... A killer always wanted a little brother I didnt know, [ he ] maintained his innocence throughout from one!

Solana Beach Explorer, Dove Commercial Model, Tournament Of Champions 2022 Food Network Results, Why Did Ben Disappear Umbrella Academy, Summer Hockey League Massachusetts, Articles W