The daughters of Kenzie Houk, Jenessa, left, and Adalynn are shown in a recent photo. Ignatz said the police investigating the slaying came from Troop D which covers Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. You have permission to edit this article. They say they remember that. Click to reveal That little baby was perfect," Debbie Houk said. Please sign the petition below to urge the courts to reopen Kenzie Marie Houks case and get justice. Join Facebook to connect with Jenessa Houk and others you may know. Those evaluations are required by state law to determine if the youth is receiving adequate treatment. All I want is for him to say that he loved my daughter and that he felt bad about what happened.. 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. Houk is the legal guardian of her granddaughters. According to Bongivengo, there were initial reports from the boy about a black truck in the area that the children didnt recognize. Threats of harming another Adalynn said to serve her birthday cake after the memorial service, said Debbie Houk, who shares a birthday with her granddaughter. We'd love to hear eyewitness A hearing on it is scheduled for Jan. 29. 54.38.94.71 His ability to overcome adversity thats been thrown at him in life is astonishing. Before the murder, there were multiple accounts of Houk being uncomfortable and tormented by Brown. 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). Millions were watching this small Pennsylvania town. Jordan Brown's lawyers seek witness statements, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, (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. According to the attorneys, her original two statements to police indicated she noticed nothing unusual. The Houks gathered at the hospital to say goodbye -- not only to Kenzie Houk, but to their unborn grandson, who was to be named Christopher Jr. "It was horrible. 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. Their photos should not be on the Internet., More in TIMELINE: Jordan Brown case (36of59). 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've talked to him numerous times in depth about what happened and if he knew anything about it, if he was involved, he would have told me by now," Brown said. "The case is obviously not over," said Elisco. Feb. This photo of Kenzie Houk was part of a memorial her family prepared for her in 2009. daughter," she said. Although law enforcement officials are not allowed to release the names of juveniles charged with a crime, the state police made Jordans name public because he has been charged as an adult. "Worse thing is losing your daughter," said Houk's mother Debbie Houk. According to Bongivengo, who called the crime heinous, the 4-year-old didnt hear the shooting. Their motion notes she did not testify at Jordans preliminary hearing March 29. Suspicious. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Threats of harming another No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Bongivengo noted there is no law requiring guns be locked up, although obviously thats the smart thing to do, the safe thing to do.. Attorneys for a 12-year-old boy charged with homicide are seeking information regarding a key witness. Keep it Clean. Boy charged with committing murder at age 11 to be tried as an adult. Live. Over the years, Debbie Houk said, she is trying to summon up forgiveness for the boy accused in the death of her daughter and grandson. 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. 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. "I know my son. It sounded to her like a gunshot, but when Jordan appeared none the worse for wear, he didnt think anything of it. Threats of harming another Family and friends gathered at the grave Thursday the fifth anniversary followed by a meal at the family home. There was a chance that Jordan could be released much earlier, but it would be another eight months before he would stand trial for double homicide one count for the mother, one for the baby. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. I hope they will not forget her. Use the 'Report' link on 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. Right away, he could tell something was very wrong. Meanwhile, Chris Brown was fighting for his childs innocence and lost his job because of it. Her statement was very credible. We'd love to hear eyewitness Debbie Houk said Jordan, a hunter, knew a lot about guns and was Its a hard day for us. Stay at Home shutterstock.com told Chris and Kenzie and they didn't believe it," Kraner said. Debbie Houk said Jordan Brown often gave 26-year-old Kenzie Low around 40F. Brown told "Nightline" he was "heartbroken" and "sickened by the judge's ruling.". 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. 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. Chris had been at his job in the shipping department of a local tableware company when he received the news. Yesterday was a difficult day for everybody involved, the district attorney said Saturday, adding officials at the scene were in shock. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a16991fef3235fa Be Nice. Jordan said he had seen a black truck near his house that morning, but he didn't think anything of it at the time. Live. State police arrived just before 10 a.m. and found Houk in her bed with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. He also indicated there is still work under way. He too drove a black truck but investigators quickly determined that it would have been impossible for him to have made the 24-mile drive over to the house without disturbing the snow on his hood from earlier that day. Its not unusual for newspapers to look back on major news events when key anniversaries come about. He believed it had been a work truck and thought nothing of it. after his father, was planned for Tuesday evening. Low 39F. mitsubishi rpm problem The worst pieces of circumstantial evidence, though, were that there was apparently traces of gunshot residue on his clothing and Jenessas recounting of that morning during her second police interview. There was a consistent backlash in the case as the years dragged on. Cloudy skies after midnight. Jenessa Houk - PA Track and Field results and photos on Athletic.net He gets all the breaks. That morning, Jordan was awakened by his sister Janessa. 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. or anything. 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Later, the 7-year-old girl told police she saw the boy drop 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. person will not be tolerated. 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. Kenzies death had been caused by a single gunshot wound to the back of the head, possibly by a 20-gauge shotgun.The Brown household held a number of handguns, rifles, shotguns, including a 20-gauge one, and several rounds of ammunition. AsABC Newsreports, Jordan was confused and unaccompanied as he was taken to the county jail. You have permission to edit this article. He fell to his knees in despair and once he had regained composure, made his way to the state police barracks. These are minor children, he said. That doesn't seem quite right to me.". It had been barely 18 hours since Kenzie was killed and already, Chris had lost his fiancee, unborn son, and his only remaining son. Low 39F. Her case deserves to be reopened and reinvestigated. Corporal Jeffrey Martin was one of the first responders on the scene. 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. The 4-year-old called out to a team of tree trimmers, telling one of them that her mother was dead. Kenzie Houk had been shot in the back of the head. According to The Innocence Project, the investigation found no fingerprint or DNA clues that would point toward Jordan being Houk's killer. 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. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. He called the situation tragic in every sense of the word.. It hurts.". Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. They interviewed 7-year-old Jenessa four times, but only recorded the fourth interview. You have permission to edit this article. It was in that downstairs bedroom that Kenzie had been sleeping in that morning, simply because it was easier. 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. Debbie Houk said she will still observe Adalynns birthday with cupcakes, but there wont be a party for a week or two. Ive never received the answers I want. The investigators insisted that Jordan's motive must be jealousy over the new baby. Their duties included securing the scene overnight, he noted Saturday, adding the troopers are pretty tired.. 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. The following years saw Jordan Brown fighting for his freedom and reading the fantasy books his father brought for him. 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. Prosecutors stand ready to bring the Jordan Brown case to its conclusion. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 11-year-old boy who was about to become her stepson. Use the 'Report' link on 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. Noga attributed the death of Houks baby to anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the bodys tissues. Christopher left for work that morning, while the kids and Houk got ready for their day. Supreme Court case banning the death penalty for juveniles in 2005. indication the boy had a problem with Houk. person will not be tolerated. Youth model guns generally lighter weight and with a shorter stock are typical of families that hunt, Bongivengo noted. (AP Photo/Thhe Houk Family). Adalynn, who loves to read, is enrolled. Defense attorneys are asking that his case be transferred to the juvenile system. But when she was. 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