Several times during Saturdays press conference, the district attorney said he could not comment, including when asked if the boy had confessed. Threats of harming another Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 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. 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. told Chris and Kenzie and they didn't believe it," Kraner said. Jenessa Houk - PA Track and Field results and photos on Athletic.net Or, Jordan had killed his dad's fiance due to jealousy over the new baby, then went to school without missing a beat. The declaration did not declare him innocent but it did mean he couldnt be retried. But investigators believed the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence came from Jenessa. After all the interviews, police claimed that Jordan had shot his future stepmother, walked out the door, dropped a shotgun shell on the ground, and then hopped on the school bus with his Jenessa (via ABC News). Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, But many argue 12 is simply too young to face the prospect of an adult sentence. What I would like to see is for the boy to get some help and for us to get freedom from this hurt.. 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. A 20-gauge shot gun shell casing was found next to the familys driveway. However, he noted officers had executed several search warrants, including one Friday that produced what they believe to be the murder weapon. "Why should you get the things back that you had when you took so much you took two lives here. The 11-year-old New Beaver Borough resident has been charged with criminal homicide and homicide of an unborn child after his fathers girlfriend just weeks away from giving birth was found shot to death in her home. Debbie Houk said Jordan Brown often gave 26-year-old Kenzie The boy faces life in prison, Bongivengo said, explaining the death penalty is not an option because of his age. 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. Christopher left for work that morning, while the kids and Houk got ready for their day. Houks suit states that names, identities and likenesses of the children are being used for fundraising purposes without the consent of the guardian and in violation of Pennsylvania law.. She had been shot in the back of the neck. 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. 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. 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. On Valentine's Day, he beat out many older and more In prison, he taught himself guitar and how to play basketball, but it was still a prison. the back of the head. Be Truthful. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). A little remorse on his part would help.. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Low 39F. "Jordan had told (my son around Christmas) he was going to pop Jordan said he had seen a black truck near his house that morning, but he didn't think anything of it at the time. Jenessa is a cheerleader for football and basketball and plays basketball on an AAU traveling team. Shows. (AP Photo/Thhe Houk Family). 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. Share with Us. Jenessa Houk is on Facebook. Threats of harming another Roughly 45 minutes later, Kenzie's other daughter, 4-year-old Adalynn, found the body and alerted others. More than two years after he was charged, the now-13-year-old was moved out of adult and back to juvenile court. If he does, the decisions would fall to the judge. If convicted, he could become the youngest person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. indication the boy had a problem with Houk. Don't knowingly lie about anyone each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Bongivengo who said no bond is normal in a homicide case noted the boy is segregated at the jail. 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. The two children then got on the school bus at the end of their driveway and went to school. Kenzies old boyfriend, Adam Harvey was another suspect the police originally liked for the murder. Jordan Brown talks about the confusion he felt for years following his detention in a juvenile delinquency facility for the death of 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk, in an interview with Juju. Jordan was released from juvenile detention in 2016, seven years after the murder of Kenzie Houk, since he had completed a slate of juvenile detention programs, per New Castle News. Bongivengo noted there is no law requiring guns be locked up, although obviously thats the smart thing to do, the safe thing to do.. Attorney Dennis A. Elisco, who is representing Jordan, confirmed Christopher Brown was the father of Houks baby. 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). They even found a perfect shotgun shell in the driveway. In the meantime, I keep them busy and they keep me busy.. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. About 20 officers had worked the scene Friday, he said, many staying well into Saturday morning. Its just not fair for the Houks, Jack Houk said. 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. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Ignatz said he was not sure where Jordan had been questioned, but he was always in the company of his father.. person will not be tolerated. They say they remember that. 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. (AP Photo/The Houk Family). Elisco has said he had no Cloudy skies after midnight. He tried. I think the 7-year-old was fearful, Bongivengo continued, but when she started talking, her story was consistent with the circumstances.. That doesn't seem quite right to me.". Winds light and variable. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. It would have been expensive and taken all of her time. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday morning. Eventually, at 14, Jordan was found delinquent and sentenced to be held at juvie until 21. blanket and came back downstairs to Houk's bedroom and shot her in An appeal of the Superior Court ruling will be argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court next month. These are minor children, he said. Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, who took office Monday after being elected in November, has a conflict of interest. The morning of her murder, Houk had asked Browns father if he could stay home from work with her. Feb. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism racist or sexually-oriented language. Winds light and variable. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Despite the fact that the blended family had only just moved in together, they seemed to be bonding well. Without any help or treatment, he cant be rehabilitated. This recollection was hardly an innocuous detail, it also happened to be something that Jordan had omitted entirely from his own description. The 4-year-old called out to a team of tree trimmers, telling one of them that her mother was dead. The girls were sent to their fathers house while Chris and Jordan stayed in the home. AsABC Newsreports, Jordan was confused and unaccompanied as he was taken to the county jail. Yesterday was a difficult day for everybody involved, the district attorney said Saturday, adding officials at the scene were in shock. 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. Martin waited for another officer to arrive and then went with him into the bedroom. 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. Police arrived to find Houk lying on the bed downstairs in a pool of blood. She anticipates adding volleyball and track this year. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Boy charged with committing murder at age 11 to be tried as an adult. More. Chance of rain 60%. Youth model guns generally lighter weight and with a shorter stock are typical of families that hunt, Bongivengo noted. 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. We were encouraged to enroll her in a program where she could compete and be trained by international coaches. Houks 7-year-old daughter told police she saw Brown quickly cover something in a blue blanket. Based on the blood, it appeared as though she might have hemorrhaged somehow and sadly had died because of it. Be Truthful. Don't Threaten. The worker quickly called 911 and waited for Pennsylvania State Police to arrive. 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. But he had been at work during the shooting, so he couldnt have done it. "The judge is saying in order to be tried as a juvenile you need to admit that you've done the crime. Jenessa woke Jordan up, and the two left for school together. Winds light and variable. Be Truthful. Kenzie Houk's younger daughter Adalynn describes finding her mom dead . A funeral for Houk and her baby boy, who was named Christopher Winds light and variable. "To try to explain to a 12-year-old what the rest of your life means it's incomprehensible for him. 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. Of course, Harvey also just discovered that 4-year-old Adalynn, was not his biological daughter as he once believed her to be. Low around 40F. Low 39F. At around 3:30 am, Chris awoke to the police pounding on his door. 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. 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. Jordan Brown, who was 11 at the time, is charged with shooting a pregnant Houk as she lay on her bed Feb. 20. Low 39F. They said hes getting counseling because his mother abandoned him as a baby, Debbie Houk said. Houk's nephew reportedly heard Jordan make an alarming comment before the murder, which Debbie Houk says was swept under the rug. Jordans conviction was eventually overturned due to insufficient evidence. "She has said to me, 'Grandma, I got up that morning, I went down to get mommy, I shook her and she wouldn't wake and she had blood on her back,'" Debbie Houk said. Chris was running late for work and though his eight-months pregnant fiancee asked him to stay home, he decided that he should go into the office anyway. The boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, did not immediately return a All I want is for him to say that he loved my daughter and that he felt bad about what happened.. racist or sexually-oriented language. "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. A 20-gauge shot gun shell casing was found next to the family's driveway. 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. and her unborn baby boy the day before as she lay in her bed. ", Jordan was denied the chance to stay in a juvenile facility where he would be released by the age of 21 as requested by his lawyers. "When we interview someone, you expect them to give their account, wait a little while, we interview them again, and they should give the same account. She even had a stepson through Chris in the form of his 11-year-old son Jordan. He said that after the older two children had left for school, she turned on the television and got herself something to eat. Brown and his dad Christopher lived with Houk and her two small "He's an average 12-year-old," said Jordan's father Chris Brown. 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. But police said that Jordan later changed his story, adding additional details about a man inside the truck. It was a decision that would haunt him from that day on. "They are serving a life sentence and I am, I ain't got my daughter no more," Debbie Houk said. This has forever ruined her birthday, she said. He also indicated there is still work under way. Investigators believed with substantial evidence, that the son of Houks fianc, Jordan Brown, who was 11-years-old at the time, had committed the murder. Keep it Clean. Keep it Clean. As the result of the investigation, which reportedly included statements from Janessa Houk who was 7 when the shooting occurred Jordan was charged with two counts of homicide in the death of Houk and her unborn child. 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