As part of procedure, they had to interview him and even swabbed his hands for gunpowder residue just in case. Family and friends gathered at the grave Thursday the fifth anniversary followed by a meal at the family home. "I know my son. Before the murder, there were multiple accounts of Houk being uncomfortable and tormented by Brown. Those evaluations are required by state law to determine if the youth is receiving adequate treatment. Its not unusual for newspapers to look back on major news events when key anniversaries come about. They called 911. Our story begins during that pregnancy, on a chilly February morning. isolated from the adult inmates, and Elisco has said he will seek "The judge is saying in order to be tried as a juvenile you need to admit that you've done the crime. 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. The girls were sent to their fathers house while Chris and Jordan stayed in the home. A Pennsylvania judge ruled last month that the boy will be tried as an adult. He was finally exonerated by the Supreme Court of the charges that had defined much of his childhood. This story originally appearedFeb. 23, 2009, in the New Castle News. Houks 7-year-old daughter told police she saw Brown quickly cover something in a blue blanket. They didnt move her, choosing to preserve the integrity of the scene as they waited for the medical examiner. At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Bongivengo said the situation is something you wouldnt think of in your worst nightmare., And although the case is still being investigated and evidence being gathered, he said, We believe we have enough to charge him.. We'd love to hear eyewitness Flick: The original Jake? At some point, he continued, she went looking for her mother, found her body and called out to the tree trimmers, who were working about 30 or 40 yards from house. 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. Jack Houk, who noted he has developed health issues that may be the result of stress, said, Every day I think of my daughter. 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. And I'll say it." https://abcn.ws/2R0eTRJ 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. Police say Brown walked into his father's bedroom, shot his future stepmom with a hunting rifle and then boarded a bus for elementary school. That morning, Jordan was awakened by his sister Janessa. Police determined that Houk was killed with a single shot in the back of the head with a youth model shot gun. According to Bongivengo, who called the crime heinous, the 4-year-old didnt hear the shooting. He told him, 'Don't you ever Later though, Jordan recalled seeing a black truck near the garage. The morning of her murder, Houk had asked Browns father if he could stay home from work with her. He noted he had spent the previous two hours with Jordans father and described him as a mess. Don't Threaten. Rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. They even found a perfect shotgun shell in the driveway. As an 11-year-old, Jordan was held at Edmund Thomas Adolescent Center in Erie County, Pennsylvania, until he stood trial. 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. Jordan, who has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 21, 2009, has never admitted guilt in the shooting. Kenzie Houk's younger daughter Adalynn describes finding her mom dead . Still even working on the idea that Jordan was jealous of his new baby brother, all of this might not be enough to charge him with the crime. Attorney Dennis A. Elisco, who is representing Jordan, confirmed Christopher Brown was the father of Houks baby. Noga attributed the death of Houks baby to anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the bodys tissues. An appeal of the Superior Court ruling will be argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court next month. Brown and his dad Christopher lived with Houk and her two small Its a shame that hes received no help whatsoever.. At around 3:30 am, Chris awoke to the police pounding on his door. She had a message to relay to the person who noticed her distress: her mom, Kenzie Houk, was dead. Kenzie Houk had been shot in the back of the head. A little remorse on his part would help.. Not only that, but Janessa recalled waiting in the living room for Jordan when she heard a big boom echo through the house. Later, the 7-year-old girl told police she saw the boy drop But everything changed on the morning of February 20, 2009. Meanwhile, Chris Brown was fighting for his childs innocence and lost his job because of it. Suspicious. "When it was addressed, Chris said his son would never say such a word.". That was her gift. (AP Photo/The Houk Family). Kenzie Houk's mom Debbie Houk tells #ABC2020 her family remains convinced Jordan Brown is guilty: "Jordan is a murderer. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. The investigators insisted that Jordan's motive must be jealousy over the new baby. to get the boy released. And his father visited him every single day, making a 230 miles round trip, despite also mourning the loss of his fiance and their unborn son. Don't Threaten. Houk's nephew reportedly heard Jordan make an alarming comment before the murder, which Debbie Houk says was swept under the rug. It was in that downstairs bedroom that Kenzie had been sleeping in that morning, simply because it was easier. He gets all the breaks. (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. Thats, like, the only thing I really want people to know.. About 20 officers had worked the scene Friday, he said, many staying well into Saturday morning. He hopes to try and gain justice for the nearly 10 years of his childhood and teenage life that he spent behind bars. person will not be tolerated. 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. Jordan Brown, who was 11 at the time, is charged with shooting a pregnant Houk as she lay on her bed Feb. 20. The site calls for financial support to provide Jordan with an effective defense. 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. 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. 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. Its just not fair for the Houks, Jack Houk said. Jordan Brown's lawyers seek witness statements, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Don't Threaten. "Jordan had told (my son around Christmas) he was going to pop The broken-hearted father of Jordan Brown is rebuilding his life while remaining strong for his son. 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. Attorneys for a 12-year-old boy charged with homicide are seeking information regarding a key witness. 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. Roughly 45 minutes later, Kenzie's other daughter, 4-year-old Adalynn, found the body and alerted others. 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). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Kenzie in the head and pop both kids. 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 youngest child, 4-year-old Adalynn, stayed behind with Houk. He knew the Bongivengo who said no bond is normal in a homicide case noted the boy is segregated at the jail. 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. Chance of rain 60%. Kids charged with murder in Pennsylvania are automatically considered adults and only a judge's decision can move the trial to juvenile court. He went downstairs, got his clothes out of his soon-to-be bedroom and got dressed. Threats of harming another They interviewed 7-year-old Jenessa four times, but only recorded the fourth interview. 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. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Jordan Brown was released from a juvenile detention facility in June 2016, months before his 19th birthday, and ordered to remain on probation until 21-years-old. If convicted, he could become the youngest person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. 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. Without any help or treatment, he cant be rehabilitated. Watch. Supreme Court case banning the death penalty for juveniles in 2005. 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. 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. 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. 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. Jenessa is a cheerleader for football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team. Plus, Harvey drove a black truck, like the kind that Jordan remembered seeing outside Houk's home. He tried. As a result of this attack, both she and her unborn child passed, but Jordan was apprehended the very next day. He also indicated there is still work under way. Don't knowingly lie about anyone "He's an average 12-year-old," said Jordan's father Chris Brown. After all, she already had two daughters from a previous relationship - 7-year-old Jenessa and 4-year-old Adalynn. Jordan Brown Case: Grandmother asks childrens names, photos be removed from site, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. They had a warrant for 11-year-old Jordans arrest. Home. "To try to explain to a 12-year-old what the rest of your life means it's incomprehensible for him. They are now 12 and 9, respectively. indication the boy had a problem with Houk. But of course, they miss their mother. 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.. Jenessa woke Jordan up, and the two left for school together. (AP Photo/Lawence County Prison via Beaver County Times Lawrence County Prison via Beave Brown. 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. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. came downstairs with two guns, but returned upstairs after Houk's After attending court proceedings since Jordans arrest, Jack Houk said he does not think hell go to any more hearings. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. The boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, did not immediately return a 2009. 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