Finally, it felt like a big weight had been lifted off of me. Brown is being held at the Lawrence County Jail, where jail officials said they don't have adequate accommodations for someone that young. "We should all learn from what happened here and that Jordan is a very strong young man," Collafella. "Kind of bittersweet, so to speak. 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Both attorneys say they would like the investigation to be reopened so that the Brown's family can finally have justice. Her right ear definitely has glue ear. I'd, like, lose myself in the book. Investigators on the case tell ABC News, in that rural area of Pennsylvania, "It's fairly common, most - especially young males - would grow up with learning to shoot firearms.". I used to hate it. After he was arrested and charged with the murders of both Kenzie Houk and her unborn child, Jordan Brown was held at the Lawrence County Jail. This included her new fianc, Chris Brown, his son, Jordan Brown, and her two daughters, Jenessa and Adalynn Houk. "It used to bother me all the time. "I'm not angry. And I would assume every trooper who investigated that case feels the same way. Houk was engaged to be married to his father, Chris Brown, and 8 and 1/2 months pregnant. "It cost me my job, and what money that I had coming in went into the gas tank and went into things that he needed," Chris Brown said. Despite the investigators' belief that Jenessa statements to police were compelling and credible, prosecutors made the decision not to introduce them at the trial, nor did she testify. When his mug shot was taken, Jordan Brown said, he was crying. ", Jordan said those visits were a lifeline: "I don't know what I would've done without them.". At 3:30 a.m. the next day, the grieving father and son were awakened by police pounding at the door. "But", I said, "If someone hits you, you hit them back". Once the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that this violated Browns constitutional rights, the presiding judge recused himself from the case, and a new judge, John W. Hodge, ruled that Brown be tried as a juvenile. [13] He was to remain on juvenile court probation until he turned 21. Owing in part to the discovery of a shotgun in the family home, near Wampum, as well as a shell casing outside and evidence of gunshot residue on his clothes, police zeroed in on 11-year-old Jordan. Im not angry. And I was in there. 1.4M views 4 years ago Jordan Brown's murder conviction has been overturned and now his attorneys and father are hoping officials will reopen the case; KDKA's Jon Delano reports. "And I just remember looking at him thinking, 'How can this kid have any more hope?'". 20/20 TONIGHT: Jordan Brown speaks out | American Broadcasting Company | After being detained at age 11 for a murder he says he didn't commit, now 21-year-old Jordan Brown speaks out for the first time to Juju Chang TONIGHT on. July 25, 2016. 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. Then-11-year-old Jordan Brown was charged in 2009 in the shooting death of his father's pregnant fiance, Kenzie Houk in New Beaver, Lawrence County. Its something I wouldnt wish upon any parent out there, he told reporters in July, according to the Tribune-Review. On February 20, 2009, the 8-month pregnant mother of two was shot in the back of her head while sleeping in the Pennsylvania home she shared with her family. HARRISBURG, Pa. Following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to overturn the murder conviction of Jordan Brown in the 2009 shooting death of his father's pregnant fiance, the now. I know they don't teach that at school. Despite the investigators' belief that Jenessa statements to police were compelling and credible, prosecutors made the decision not to introduce them at the trial, nor did she testify. The first place they put him was in a solitary confinement suicide watch cell, in an adult facility," says Brown's attorney, Alec Wright. M ichael Jordan, widely considered the greatest basketball player in NBA history and the lone African-American majority owner of a franchise, has decided to speak out on the country's growing racial and social unrest. Jordan, then a fifth grader, said he didn't understand what he was being accused of. Then, they drive off in the victim's vehicle. As the facility was only for adults, he was transferred to a juvenile center in March 2009. "As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have . Police also said they found a 20-gauge shotgun shell casing in pristine condition next to the family's driveway and found some evidence of gunshot residue on Jordan's clothing. "A judge finding a juvenile delinquent is effectively a guilty verdict. Investigators said the gun smelled like it had recently been fired. And we just sat on the couch in the living room waiting and then Kenzie told us to go because the bus is coming and we're going to be late. Yet, the one thing thats never-changing in her life is what transpired on February 20, 2009. In video released three days after 65-year-old Judy Walters was left for dead, one of the suspects forces an automatic gate to open. "I just want to be successful. "Read that Supreme Court order and realize that this kid was done wrong. The great betrayal: How journalist Isabel Oakeshott leaked Matt Hancock's WhatsApps after they worked Don't just stick to the Malbec! I think has just ruined us [from] ever having closure and the person who did this, and for the person who actually did this to pay for it.". Jordan Brown spent eight summers in detention and was released when he turned 18 in 2016. Time flew when you were reading.". With Conviction Overturned, Jordan Brown's Family, Attorneys Want Murder Case Reopened. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. July 1, 2020 / 1:09 PM I'm your dad. While it usually clears up within three months, it is recommended the advice of a GP is sought if hearing problems are experienced. Throughout Jordan Brown's stay in detention in Erie, his father continued to ask him whether he'd killed Houk. 4:00 PM Jordan Brown, accused at age 11 of killing his pregnant soon-to-be stepmother in Lawrence County, has maintained his innocence of the crime for nearly a decade. And for the first time, free after 7 years behind bars, Jordan Brown speaks out in an exclusive #ABC2020 interview. Teen Who Survived Fall From 60-Foot Bridge: I. I'm never not going to be here every day,'" Chris Brown said. Everything seemed to be going well until a tree-cutter on their property noticed 4-year-old Adalynn sobbing at around 9 a.m. (45 minutes after her siblings left for school) on that February 2009 morning. Police said Jordan Brown walked into her bedroom, shot his future stepmother with his youth hunting shotgun and then boarded the bus for his elementary school. Jordan Brown spent eight summers in detention and was released when he turned 18 in 2016. "I had no idea what was going on." The daily journey, however, wreaked havoc on his finances, Chris Brown said. Chris Brown said he drove every day, 230 miles round trip, to see his son at the center. James added that other people could rely on finding an adult in similar situations but that 'if someone hits my child, she can hit them straight back'. "It's kind of a bittersweet feeling, you know. 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users "As any parent could imagine it's something I wouldn't wish on any other parent out there," said Chris Brown. "I'm not angry. "They played a big [role] in, like, keeping my head straight," he said. 'I believe in this strongly. Prosecutors argued in court that Jordan committed the murder and proceeded to get on the school bus not long after. Among other things, justices argued that trial evidence pointing to a shotgun in Browns bedroom as the murder weapon supported an equally reasonable conclusion that it wasnt the murder weapon., WKBN reports attorney Matt Mangino as saying, Here it seemed, justices felt the evidence could be interpreted in two different ways, and obligation is on the prosecution to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt., He added that the majority opinion was that although there was evidence presented, it wasnt enough to convict and overturn the decision., Jordan Brown will speak publicly for the first time on tomorrows 20/20 television broadcast, airing at 10 p.m., his lawyer said.https://t.co/Qd9g12jSCA, New Castle News (@NewCastleNews) October 18, 2018. Crying, Adalynn ran outside, and the tree-cutters phoned 911 as soon as they understood what the toddler was saying. It comes after Ella celebrated her third birthday at the weekend, with Ola taking to Instagram to share a picture from the party. At the age of 4, the latter discovered her mother's remains. It come after James spoke out about his strong stance on how Ella defends herself against others in the world. The five of them became a blended family, and the three kids acted as actual siblings from the get-go. He told Hello! And that made me happy. "They played a big (role) in, like, keeping my head straight," he said. Not on your life. The trial last three days. And they took it from him at 3 a.m., in the middle of the night, with flashlights pointed in his face, for a crime he didn't commit. But investigators believed the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence came from Jenessa. Eight and a half years after his arrest, Jordan Brown's case was heard by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last November. I used to hate it. I didn't know where I was at, like, what was going on or anything," he said. 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. They also found a 20-gauge shotgun that belonged to Jordan. | By ABC 20/20 | Facebook Log In Forgot Account? "A judge finding a juvenile delinquent is effectively a guilty verdict. "The headline simply read the world's youngest monster. 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. His conviction was overturned. "You took an 11-year-old's childhood away from him. At around 8:15 a.m., Jordan Brown said, he and then-7-year-old Jenessa, one of Houk's daughters, left the house to catch the school bus. And I was in there. Jordan Browns murder conviction has been overturned and now his attorneys and father are hoping officials will reopen the case; KDKA's Jon Delano reports. Despite this,. Please enter valid email address to continue. ", "My sister Jenessa woke me up," Jordan Brown said. 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. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. An exclusive preview is above. When asked what message he had for the state police troopers who'd arrested his son, Chris Brown said, "'Shame on you,' is probably the most polite way to put it.". She was clutching her blanket and insisting that her mother was gone. "(I) went downstairs, got my clothes, went in the bathroom (and) got dressed. Brown is now 20 and hopes to become a civil rights attorney. But the decision exonerated him and prevented a retrial. I deserve a little sympathy, too. "There is not a trooper on scene that day that has lost one second of sleep over this case.". It's saying that I have a charge in front of me in juvenile court, and I am finding that you are responsible for that crime," ABC News' Chief Legal Analyst Dan Abrams said. When do the clocks change in 2023? "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. Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. I'm never not going to be your dad. ET Saturday), both on ABC. 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. "I lost it.". Condition: Ella was diagnosed with glue ear, which is when the empty middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid which can cause temporary hearing loss, according to the NHS, Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. A 5-0 ruling Wednesday reversed the finding by a juvenile court judge that Brown was guilty of first-degree murder and homicide of an unborn child. Houk was engaged to be married to his father, Chris Brown, and 8 and 1/2 months pregnant. She then tried to wake up her mother and slowly realized what had happened when Kenzie wouldnt respond. He said that getting ready for school that day in February 2009 was "just a normal morning. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A federal lawsuit has been filed against four former state troopers and a former state police commissioner for the wrongful conviction of a boy arrested at 11 years old. In other words, it messes with the investigators initial timeline, which now does not hold much sway anyway as Jordan was cleared and can never be re-tried. You've, you know, ruined his name in essence. That's where the case took us. ", Jordan said those visits were a lifeline: "I don't know what I would've done without them.". After being arrested in February 2009, Jordan was placed in the Lawrence County Jail in Pennsylvania. Wright says police fabricated evidence and hid evidence that would have exonerated Brown. Inside the Browns' farmhouse, police found handguns, rifles, and several rounds of ammunition. They took that from Jordan. "Half of his life he has spent in this system to get to this final day today," Chris Brown, Jordan's father, said Monday. Less than 24 hours later, Jordan was arrested. "It cost me my job, and what money that I had coming in went into the gas tank and went into things that he needed," Chris Brown said. While awaiting trial, Jordan Brown was housed for three years at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center in Erie County, Pennsylvania. That fueled a media frenzy," Elisco said. In the exclusive clip from his ABC interview, Jordan reflects on his hard years in custody, including the fights he witnessed and his glimpses of freedom. Even all the adults loved it.'. Ola said that she was 'cringing' when James was talking to Ella as they could be overheard. The trial lasted three days. Jordans father, Chris, did not publicly speak about the case until July 2018, when the conviction was overturned. Speaking to the Post-Gazette hours after learning of the overturned conviction, Houks father, who has been raising Houks two daughters, said he was rocked by the reversal. First published on July 1, 2020 / 1:09 PM. Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. Go to https://expressvpn.com/kendallrae and find out how you can get 3 months free! The officers had a warrant to arrest 11-year-old Jordan Brown. When asked what message he had for the state police troopers who'd arrested his son, Chris Brown said, "'Shame on you,' is probably the most polite way to put it.". Taylor Smith speaks exclusively with "GMA" about the incident that left a fellow teen, Jordan Holgerson, with broken ribs and punctured lungs. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. PREVIOUS STORY: Teen convicted of killing father's fiance, unborn child released from juvenile detention. The loss of her mother continues to hang over her head like a dark cloud and affect her, but time is gradually healing all wounds, helping her move on with her life in the most productive ways possible. Happy family:It comes after Ella celebrated her third birthday at the weekend, with Ola taking to Instagram to share a picture from the party. Now, Jordan is speaking out about the case in an interview with ABC News airing on 20/20 and Nightline. On April 13, 2012, Judge Hodge ruled that Jordan was responsible for first-degree murder in the death of Kenzie Houk. "If I would read something and come across a word I didn't know, [I would] look it up. Jordan Brown Speaks After Murder Conviction Is Overturned Crime Charged with Murdering Dad's Fiance When He Was 11, Now 21-Year-Old Speaks After Court Freed Him Jordan Brown was a. En cliquant sur Accepter tout, vous acceptez que Yahoo et nos partenaires traitent vos informations personnelles et utilisent des technologies telles que les cookies pour afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss, et des fins de mesure des publicits et des contenus, dtude des audiences et de dveloppement de produit. We did not get this wrong," McGraw told ABC News. He said the whole thing was a lengthy, unnecessary process and they feel clearingBrown's name is long overdue. "The operating theory is that he covered the gun with the blanket to hide it when he came downstairs" from his bedroom to shoot Houk, who was in a first-floor bedroom, Bongivengo said. Police later found a spent 20-gauge shotgun shell at that spot. [I'd say,] 'Jordan, listen, if something happens. Jordan Brown's lawyers had filed a notice of appeal two months after he was convicted. At 9 a.m., tree trimmers arrived to work around the house. Now that you all know. (This account of the case is pulled from reports by ABC News, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette and available court documents.). Months pregnant comes after Ella celebrated her third birthday at the age of 4, the Pittsburgh and! Him and prevented a retrial the five of them became a blended family, and several rounds of ammunition not..., what was going on or anything, '' he said that getting ready for that! Brown said done wrong, listen, If something happens within three months, it is recommended the of... 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