By JEANNE STARMACK
starmack@vindy.com
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
Though Jordan Brown was found guilty in the shotgun murder of his father’s pregnant fiancee, the victim’s father says there really won’t be closure.
“We’re not gonna sit back and enjoy the victory,” said Jack Houk shortly after Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge John Hodge announced his decision Friday. “There’s no joy for us. He killed our daughter and the baby.”
A few family members and Jordan were present in the courtroom at 2 p.m. to await the decision, which was closed to the public because it was a juvenile proceeding. Jordan, 14, was adjudicated delinquent, which means guilty in juvenile court, for killing Kenzie Houk, 26, the morning of Feb. 20, 2009, as she lay in bed in a farmhouse the family was renting near Wampum, Pa.
Police said Jordan, 11 at the time, got his 20-gauge youth-model shotgun, loaded it, went into Houk’s room and shot her at close range in the back of the head.
Afterward, he got on the school bus with Houk’s 7-year-old daughter, Janessa. Her 4-year-old daughter, Adalynn, found her mother’s body and went for help to tree-trimmers working in the yard.
Houk’s unborn baby, a boy who was due in two weeks, died from lack of oxygen.
Police found the shotgun in Jordan’s room.
Jordan has been in a juvenile detention center in Erie, Pa., for three years while his lawyers fought for a transfer of his case from adult to juvenile court.
Now, he will be sent to a treatment program. The prosecutor in the case, Assistant Attorney General Anthony Krastek Jr., said the boy is supposed to be sentenced within 20 days, though the court could be granted an extension.
Jordan’s father, Chris Brown, did not speak to the media after the verdict. After closing arguments Thursday, he and defense attorney Dennis Elisco said they believed the evidence was circumstantial and that the state had not proved its case.
Brown said Thursday there was no motive for Jordan to shoot Houk because he loved her. He called his son “a good kid.”
Krastek said Friday, however, that there were indications of a motive.
“We don’t have to prove motive,” Krastek said. “But there was evidence of ill-feeling, that there was better treatment of the stepsisters, and he was being moved out of his room to make room for the new baby.”
He also elaborated on other evidence.
There were no footprints in freshly fallen snow, he said, to indicate anyone else could have been at the house. The children and Kenzie were there alone; Chris Brown was at work.
“There was a half-hour window of opportunity for this killing,” Krastek said. “They lived out in the boondocks. Very few people knew they lived there.”
Someone would have had to know where the gun was, where the ammunition was, gotten them without waking Houk, killed her, then left without leaving any footprints or tire tracks, he said.
He also said there was gunshot residue on the boy’s shirt and pants.
Elisco could not be reached Friday. Jordan’s other defense attorney, Stephen Colafella, said the defense is disappointed in the verdict.
“But we respect it,” he said. “We’re moving on, and at the end of the day, it’s what’s best for Jordan.”
He said that the Erie detention center was mainly a holding center that did not offer much in the way of programs.
Colafella said Jordan likely will go to a center that can meet his needs for treatment and education.
Jordan must be released on his 21st birthday, he said, but could be released before then.
His lawyers will receive reports on his progress every six months.
Colafella said he does not know how Jordan reacted to the verdict, because he was taken quickly from the courthouse for security reasons and they did not have a chance to talk to him.
Houk said he would have liked the chance to ask Jordan “why.”
“I’d like to look him right in the face and say, ‘Why did you do that,’” he said, his voice breaking.
Comments
Well that's, that. He was eleven when the crime was done, but what age was he when he received the damn gun. A lot of people corrupt their kids in a way , then later in life try to defend it. Such as a mother buying and allowing their young daughter to wear make up , then when these older men start @ them then it's a problem. Maybe if not the gun then it could have been a stabbing. But hey no matter how young , do the crime , u'll do time. MAYBE NOW HE WILL UNDERSTAND
I think both sides got justice here.
The victim's family got a guilty verdict for murder, even though it's cold comfort at best.
The child's family knows Jordan will be released from juvenile detention by the time he is 21. He will still have his whole life ahead of him, and hopefully have been rehabilitated enough to know right from wrong.
Contrary to all the sickening Republican Tea Party Bible-Thumpers out there ---- society is not best served by the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" mentality towards these types of crimes.
People like Jordan Brown were too young to fully understand the serious nature of their crimes ---- and deserve a 2nd shot at life to make up for what they did.
No one is going to bring back a dead mother and her unborn baby. We can only hope Jordan can spend the rest of his adult life contributing back to society in a constructive way. Isn't that the Christian doctrine, rather than to let him rot away in prison for another 30-40 years which only destroys another life and drains millions from taxpayers?
I feel most bad for the poor little girl that found her mother lying lifeless in bed at the age of 4. That's going to affect her for the rest of her life. She is the one who is really going to suffer the most, along with her other child who is now motherless.
I'm not a tea-party bible thumper, but I believe the little evil bastard should be locked up for life. Along with his idiot of a father for giving him access to a weapon at such an early age.
Children should not have access to guns...period.
Something being forgotten in this story is the blended family this boy was having to deal with. When parents make choices that put themselves ahead of their children, moving on to another relationship and having kids with someone who already has kids with someone else, there are issues of jealousy and conflict that have to be dealt with. Yes, he should have had some idea of right from wrong, and no, he should not have access to a gun without supervision. But the breakdown of a stable family is a huge issue, and for someone to say, oh, he was a good kid, he didn't have any bad feelings toward her is very naive. Very sad situation, and we see it all the time with the breakdown of the family. Kids are the losers in these situations.
To Stewie ---
If you are ever convicted of shoplifting or vandalism, I hope they lock you up and throw away the key.
MORON.
I fully agree with ValleyMom.
There was likely a lot of emotional abuse being forced on Jordan by the soon-to-be stepmother. She may have said very vicious things like "As soon as I marry your Dad, you will be sent off to boarding school while the rest of us live as a happy family" or maybe "I will always love the girls more than you".
She didnt deserve to be murdered --- but I wouldnt be suprised if one day we find out she was treating Jordan very badly emotionally. As we all know, 11 yr. old children can deal with anger and jealousy much worse than adults because they feel powerless.
I think Jordan's father deserves some blame --- and not just for allowing easy access to guns. I think he probably didnt stick up for Jordan while his fiance was abusing him verbally. Jordan probably thought his whole world was crashing down on him --- and lashed out in a violent way because he had "nothing to lose".
Think about these things carefully --- and start thinking about your kids before you shack up with any fluzy who will hang out with you after you get divorced.
sadness all around.
Something everyone needs to understand... This child sat three years with no trial. The initial charge was as an adult charge that carried a life without parole sentence if found guilty. The D.A. that chose that initial charge was in the middle of a big re-election. Jordan was exploited because he was the youngest person ever charged with LWOP. There is something wrong with the system when a child this young can sit three years with no trial, or intervention.
There are many issues involved in the way this child was mistreated in the system. Guilty or not, he is a child. I hope those issue come out and get addressed one day, so no other children have to ever experience what this child did.
Also, there were many issues involved in this case that have not been exposed as of yet. Jordan was convicted in the media, he never confessed. This is why children this young should never be exposed. The state did many things wrong in the way they charged him. There was no real evidence, despite what your reading today.The crime lab even cleared the child. The victim had a lot of baggage. One apparently took to the stand drunk and denied there were protective orders on him. The top investigator and witness were not brought in by the prosecutor. ?
The victim's parents were escorted in the court by men who wore black bandanna's covering their faces, in leather jackets. I can say more. The brother-in-law of he victim was escorted out of the courthouse for fighting. This was suppose to be a closed trial. Yet, all there was much drama, and yet, here we all are discussing it.
I think after three years with no trial and a family that had to travel 80 miles a day to support him emotionally, that he should have an alternative plan. The system should not be designed to deplete a person financially so they cannot travel to be close to a loved child that needs their support emotionally. Yet it does. Jordan was found "delinquent" only on subjective evidence. If he is guilty, let the family work with the court system and find an alternative plan. This child needs his family.
It is very sad for all involved, despite the odd behaviors of some people. Both the victim's family, as well as Jordan and his family have suffered enough. They all need support and peace. Jordan is a good kid, despite how he was portrayed.
The state should charge the father as well. What kind of idiot gives a child a gun?
The Supeme Coiurt just ruled that it is cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a juvenile to life without parole.
Any DA who vigorously pursued a life sentence without parole for an 11-yr. mentally disturbed kid because he was only worried about re-election should be immediately disbarred permanently and brought up on charges of malicious prosecution. That type of scumbag is the real criminal here.
I think Jordan Brown is looking at a rather solid case for violation of his civil rights when he gets out of jail. Ever heard of right to a speedy trial? Go look it up in the U.S. Constitution. Jordan is going to make a lot of money from this debacle.
The whole situation is very sad !