He then elaborated that he had raped both girls. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Elizabeth Pea (left) and Jennifer Ertman (right), Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea. The girls were raped and murdered by the gang members in a field near T.C. window at Ertman and other relatives of the girls and called his This prompted Medelln to say the gang "had fun" and that details would appear on the news. Supporters of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena hold their photos as the State of Texas prepares to execute Derrick Sean O'Brien Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at the "Walls" Unit in Huntsville, Texas. You can always change this later in your Account settings. FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2008, file photo, Adolfo Pena, from right, father of victim Elizabeth Pena, Randy Ertman, father of victim Jennifer Ertman, and Christina Alamaraz, friend of Jennifer Ertman, speak to the media after the execution of Mexican-born death row inmate Jose Medellin in Huntsville, Texas. Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, were raped, tortured and murdered by gang members while walking near TC Jester on June 24, 1993. [47] Medellin is scheduled to be released in 2034. He was the ringleader in a crime that struck a raw nerve for its sheer brutality: the repeated gang rape, torture and murder of 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman and 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena in 1993. I cant even imagine those poor girls. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. /PageMode /UseNone Family members linked to this person will appear here. 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder.The rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena rocks Houston. The other five were tried for capital murder in Harris County, Texas, convicted and sentenced to death. Of the six people convicted for the heinous crimes, five were sentenced to death. Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena murdered while walking near Houston Sylvia Orta Perez, 32, who had gym class with Jennifer Ertman in middle school, takes a moment at the memorial site for Ertman and Elizabeth Pea in TC Jester Park on Tuesday. startxref Im sure they fed off each others violence. O'Brien (the only non-Hispanic in the gang) and Villarreal then proceeded to strangle Ertman with a red nylon belt before the belt broke. She then attempted to flee. at the time, got a 40-year sentence. By approximately 10:30 p.m., Villarreal had successfully fought two gang members before being beaten midway through his fight with the third member. Among his blistering comments, Ertman shouted at him, "You're not even an animal." Police said the Waltrip High School students were. The medical examiner later testified that this is how she could be sure as to the horrible brutality of the rapes, beatings and murders. Jenny was strangled with the belt of Sean O'Brien, with two murderers pulling, one on each side, until the belt broke. << Because of efforts by Ertman's father along with victims advocate Andy Kahan and others, victim's . This means that the new member was required to fight every member of the gang until he passed out and then he would be accepted as a member. Medelln said in a sworn statement that he learned that the Mexican consulate could assist him in 1997. She was thrown to the ground by gang members Peter Cantu and Derrick Sean O'Brien. My first knowledge of the death of Jennifer was seeing Randy, on the news that evening, screaming at the police officers who were struggling to hold him back, "Does she have blond hair?? /Contents [ 75 0 R ] Mexican-born Jose Medellin, 33, with needles in Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, were beaten, gang raped, and strangled in Houston, Texas. Ertman, however, doesn't agree with that viewpoint. Randy Ertman's fiery red hair is gray, and now Cantu is dead. involvement "the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life." We get into the details of the story at 9:46. Peter Anthony Cantu is shown in this undated Texas Department of Criminal Justice handout photo. They were forced to perform oral sex. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. One of the gang members later said during the brag session that by the time he got to one of the girls, "she was loose and sloppy." Failed to delete memorial. O'Brien was videotaped smiling at the scene of the crime. Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. His knowledge of the crimes came from the killers themselves, most of whom came to his home after the murders, bragging and swapping the jewelry they had stolen from the girls. Medellin was one of six teenagers arrested and charged with the 1993 gang rape and murders of Elizabeth Pea, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14. It shocked many onlookers and outraged a few. 75 0 obj You're welcome to hang with us anytime!" The 14-year-old juvenile later testified that he had gone back and forth between his brother and Peter Cantu since they were the only ones there that he really knew and kept urging them to leave. [40], Cantu, Medelln, and O'Brien are buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. cemeteries found in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 0000000809 00000 n [6], The girls were walking along the White Oak Bayou when they encountered six "Black and White" gang members drinking beer shortly after holding the gang initiation ceremony of 17-year-old Raul Omar Villarreal. Both girls were strangled to death. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Shoelaces were used to strangle Pena. This had not previously been done in Texas courts and now is done as a matter of routine. The scheduled execution of Medellin has attracted international attention after the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, said the Mexican-born Medellin and some 50 other Mexicans on death rows around the nation should have new hearings in U.S. courts to determine whether a 1963 treaty was violated with their arrests. Anderson, a Houston Police Department officer who worked on the murder case, described the murder as "part of the impetus for the antigang programs in Houston." [24][25][26], At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. The rapes and murders of Jennifer Lee Ertman and Elizabeth Christine Pea, two teenage girls from Houston, Texas, aged 14 and 16, respectively, occurred on June 24, 1993. Jennifer Ertman was born on August 15, 1978, to Sandra and Randy Ertman. [7], Villarreal had not been a member of the Black and White gang or any gang but had engaged in this initiation ceremony whereby he had been forced to fight several gang members for five minutes successively before they judged whether to accept him. Six teenagers repeatedly raped, assaulted, then beat the girls to death, beyond recognition. The whole purpose of punishing these people should be to make them suffer. An angry Randy Ertman stood at the trial and told the killers: "We live for the day you die. /L 64011 Raul was an acquaintance of Efrain and was not known to the other gang members. They were two teenage girls from Texas who disappeared during one night after attending a. Money can't stop gangs. The families of both Ertman and Pea strongly favored the execution(s). 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Haunting killings of 2 Houston teens 25 years ago leaves lasting legacy Peter Cantu probably would've. As Ertman was murdered, Pea was forced to watch her friend's death as other gang members held a ligature around her own neck. [33], Medelln's impending execution became an international controversy since the state did not hold a hearing about whether the inability of Medelln to meet with Mexican consular officials harmed his defense. The case was also notable in that the state of Texas rejected attempts by the International Court of Justice to halt several perpetrators' executions. An Audio-Recording of Pure Murder By Corey Mitchell - Chapter One "He's a guy who fully accepts his responsibility.". FILE Randy Ertman, father of Jennifer Ertman, salutes Judge Mike Anderson in the 262nd Criminal District Court in 2003 after Anderson set the execution date for Raul Villarreal. When the police followed this suggestion, they found the badly decaying bodies of Jenny and Elizabeth. Bush only uses the term Christian to gather votes, all while he claims that Allah is the same as Jesus. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 1 of 3 Jennifer Ertman, left, and Elizabeth Pea both attended Waltrip High School. be a deterrent.". Resend Activation Email. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. /Rotate 0 >> Both girls were sexually assaulted by all but one of the gang members, 14-year-old Venancio "Yuni" Medelln, on a minimum of four occasions. HUNTSVILLE, Texas (CBS/AP/KHOU) Tonight, Peter Anthony Cantu will be executed for two of the most notorious deaths in Houston history, the 1993 rapes and murders of 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena and 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman. %PDF-1.3 [48] Another memorial exists at T.C. When the Supreme Court of the United States banned the executions of people who committed crimes while they were below 18 years of age, the sentences of Prez and Villarreal were automatically commuted to life in prison. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. First published on August 17, 2010 / 5:39 PM. The murder of the two girls made headlinesin Texas newspapers due to the nature of the crime and the new law resulting from the murder that allows families of the victims to view the execution of the murderers. The two were close friends, attended the same high school, lived in the same neighborhood, and enjoyed hanging . The medical examiner testified that Elizabeth's two front teeth were knocked out of her brutalized mouth before she died and that two of Jennifer's ribs were broken after she had died. Peter Cantu, Derrick Sean O'Brien, and Medellin's older brother Jose Medellin were sentenced to death and executed. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 0000011007 00000 n This photo released by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Jose Medellin who is set for execution at the Texas Prison in Huntsville, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Sadly, they never made it.. Sean Mitchell, 36, is surrounded by children Juliet, 4, Dominick, 5, and Brock Mitchell, 7, as they say a prayer at the memorial site for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena along T.C. Ok, thanks. Five of the gang members proceeded to repeatedly rape both girls for in excess of an hour. Courtesy photos Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Peter Anthony Cantu, shown at his 1994 trial, was the one who called . 88 0 obj [22], Four days after the murders, the girls' bodies were found in the park during hot weather conditions. when they committed their crimes. Meet the Astros prospect tearing up Spring Training, Texas tornados destroy homes, leave 300,000 without power, Proposed Texas bill would offer 12 weeks of paid family leave, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Texas Republican wants to ban access to abortion websites, Dallas Morning News reporter calls mayor 'bruh,' gets fired. Today's video is on the case of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pea. Year should not be greater than current year. When Peter Cantu saw Jenny and Elizabeth, he thought it was a man and a woman and told the other gang members that he wanted to jump him and beat him up. They are both buried at Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation. Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the deaths of the girls "shook" the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston "to its foundation.". In response, Cantu repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three of her teeth and fracturing several ribs. I testified against that fuck. Jester Park at White Oak bayou. According to later testimony, on one occasion, Pea glanced in the direction of her younger friend as she herself was raped by Efrain Prez and began weeping as she observed Ertman. Thanks for your help! Peter Anthony Cantu was executed for the brutal murders of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. HUNTSVILLE, Texas (CBS/AP/KHOU) Tonight, Peter Anthony Cantu will be executed for two of the most notorious deaths in Houston history, the 1993 rapes and murders of 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena and. We need to send Jorge some kneepads so he wont hurt himself in dealing with Mexico. [29] Although none of them were charged (Cantu had already been sentenced to death by the time he was linked to Lopez's murder), Lopez's murder was mentioned in the sentencing phases of O'Brien and Medelln. Jester Park.[43]. Gang rapists/murderers are a special kind of sub species of vermin. Take them out and shoot them - then hand them from a tree and let the vultures do their work. Two VERY important things in the criminal justice system have changed as a result of these murders. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. His war on terror is a sham - if he was so concerned about terrorists why does he allow American citizens to be murdered by Mexican terrorists on own soil. "I'd like to have heard, the last 17 years, someone say 'I love you, dad.' Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Venancio Medelln did rape Ertman on one occasion. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, To get these special tacos, drive out to the Houston Ship Channel, MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, 'This is about profit': Houston leaders condemn HISD takeover, Oops! We have set your language to June 25, 1994: Family and friends of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena gather at T.C. This is a sad and haunting note in the history of Houston Texas. The gang members then stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. Dude, you're a badass! Following Cantu's initial instruction, Villarreal first shouted "Get on your knees, bitch!" "He never should have been breathing in the first place.". 0000006863 00000 n Local host Peter Boyles here in Denver is talking about it. % This is a truly brutal case of murder. This is one that truly, truly haunts me. Rose Rogers says a prayer at the memorial for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena along T.C. This was clearly a job for a lynch mob. "It's a little late," Ertman said. /N 31 Try again later. I hope you rot in hell.". This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. One of the boys boasted of having 'virgin blood' on him. Neither attempted to prevent the assaults or to inform the police. Most of the soft tissue on Jennifer Ertman's head and the external portion of her vagina was eaten by maggots, indicating that there was trauma, hemorrhaging and bleeding. Houston was stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. Very well done. Randy Ertman, father of Jennifer Ertman, confronts an anti-death penalty activist, David Adwood outside the 262nd Criminal District Court in 2003, where Judge Mike Anderson the execution date for Raul Villarreal. The families of both Ertman and Pea strongly favored the execution(s). February 27, 2023 . Oops, we were unable to send the email. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Elizabeth was also strangled with her shoelaces, after crying and begging the gang members not to kill them; bargaining, offering to give them her phone number so they could get together again. He raped Jennifer and was later sentenced to 40 years for aggravated sexual assault, which was the maximum sentence for a juvenile. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? The State of Texas charged Cantu with the capital murder of Jennifer Ertman during a kidnapping, robbery, or aggravated sexual assault. Memorials to Ertman and Pea in TC Jester Park: In the background is the railroad bridge where the two were initially attacked. 1 second ago. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. By . The gang members stomped on both girls' throats to ensure their deaths. 76 0 R /F10 78 0 R /F11 80 0 R /F12 82 0 R /F13 84 0 R /F14 86 0 R >> >> R.I.P to the both of them. TDCJ refused to permit Kahan to witness the execution. They also knew they would have to pass a sexually-oriented business on that route and so decided to take a well-known shortcut down a railroad track and through a city park to Elizabeth's neighborhood. Randy commandeered the news van and went to the scene that was now bustling with police activity. [7] Prez will become eligible for parole on October 10, 2029, while Villarreal will become eligible for parole on September 20, 2029.[27][28]. One member, Jos Medelln, attempted to grope and pinch one of Pea's breasts. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 791 ] Both girls were sexually assaulted by all but one of the gang members, 14-year-old Venancio "Yuni" Medelln, on a minimum of four occasions. June 24th: Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman Killed (1993) No parent should lose a child. Peter Anthony Cantu was executed for the brutal murders of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. As he lay writhing and moaning on the ground after being temporarily knocked unconscious, the gang members conferred privately to discuss whether to accept Villarreal as a member. visiting the murder location of Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman two houston teenager who were brutally taped and murdered by gang memebers in a jouston ar. In July, the World Court ordered a stay of Medelln's execution. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. How sick My heart is broken. The break in solving the case came from, of course, the 911 call. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. [5][30], Before his execution, O'Brien expressed his regrets for his actions to the families of Pea and Ertman. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7051821/jennifer-lee-ertman. The prosecutors said that Medelln never told authorities that he was a Mexican citizen. I'm going to show up to his parole. Randy Ertman, father of slain teen, has died, Ex-gang leader executed for '93 deaths of 2 Houston girls, Supreme Court to hear Houston death row case. Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls. /OutputBin 7 The police were sent to the scene and searched the park without finding anything. Another change that resulted from the Ertman-Pena case was the decision to allow victims' relatives to witness executions. Elizabeth Christine Pea (June 21, 1977 June 24, 1993) and Jennifer Lee Ertman (August 15, 1978 June 24, 1993) were close friends who both attended Waltrip High School. August 18, 2010 / 12:40 PM [30][41][42], The parents of the murder victims successfully advocated for the State of Texas to allow victims' relatives to have permission to witness executions. [4], Ertman and Pea decided to take a 10-minute shortcut to Pea's residence in Oak Forest by following the railroad tracks and passing through T.C. 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder - YouTube Two brothers who had been with them but testified that they were not in the gang left first and passed Jenny and Elizabeth, who were unknowingly walking towards their deaths. May the souls of these poor girls rest in peace in Gods loving arms, and may the monsters who did this be subject to the most vicious and painful torture that hell has to offer. Venancio Medelln, the brother of Jos Medelln, was 14 at the time of the murder, the same age as Jennifer Ertman. enlisted personnel selected for officer candidate school attend officer indoctrination training Your Scrapbook is currently empty. stream The teens were killed in TC Jester . Pure Murder Chapter 10: JENNIFER ERTMAN - Chapter 1 < Prev Chapter. . At sentencing, the offenders were remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. Corey Mitchell's book "Pure Murder," which details the story of the killings, was released in 2008 and became a best seller. << At his sentencing for the Ertman-Pena case, the judge asked Cantu if there was any reason the sentence shouldn't be imposed. After the trial of Peter Cantu, Judge Bill Harmon allowed the family members to address the convicted. Huntsville Unit prison. The details in this description of the girls last moments are brutal. I was in a tree. Notice: This memorial is being managed in abeyance until a proper manager requests control of the memorial. Elizabeth's father said he was not surprised. "[20], Cantu dropped off Jos Medelln, Prez, and Villarreal at his residence, where he lived with his brother, Joe Cantu, and sister-in-law, Christina Cantu. "Hopefully they'll find some peace. Guns, cops, all that shit. Ertman's daughter Jennifer, 14, and her friend, 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, were attacked June 24, 1993, by gang members as they walked home along White Oak Bayou. This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Derrick O'Brien who is scheduled for execution at the Texas prison in Huntsville, Tuesday, May 16, 2006. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. And Cantu's brother, upset at the gang's gloating about having fun with the girls, called police. Premiered Apr 29, 2022 17 Dislike Share Save Sinister Intelligence 147 subscribers ****WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT**** The absolutely heinous murder of teenage friends Jennifer Louise Ertman and. DOES SHE HAVE BLOND HAIR?!!?". Christina Cantu questioned why Villarreal was bleeding, and Prez had a bloody shirt. In response, Cantu tackled and repeatedly kicked the girl in her face and body, dislodging three teeth and fracturing several ribs. Outside the girls' school, Waltrip High, death penalty opponents were calling for a halt to all executions in Texas. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. The Ertmans and Penas are videotaping their protest for the parole board, in case they are not here in 18 years to protest in person. [36] Governor Perry rejected calls from Mexico and Washington, DC, to delay the execution, citing the torture, rape, and strangulation of two teenaged girls in Houston 15 years ago as just cause for the death penalty. "Nothing he would say to me would make any difference," he said. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. CONTACT FILED: RANDY ERTMAN. He petitioned the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1998 regarding this issue; the appeal failed. The murder of the two girls made headlines in Texas newspapers due to the nature of the crime and the new law resulting from the murder that allows families of the victims to view the execution of the murderers. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the 73 0 obj He was frustrated that he had been the one who was unable to fight Raul. [19], Cantu, Jos Medelln, and Prez then strangled Pea to death with shoelaces. In that case, a 27-year-old woman was found at a Houston park with her throat cut. "He should have been hung outside the courthouse," Ertman said in an All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. endstream No death, but it was a year before columbine. The community says a prayer at the memorial site for Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. The murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena have had an impact on victim's rights in Texas still felt 25 years after their deaths. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Jester Park. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Peter Anthony Cantu (AP Photo/Texas Dept. I was in Menlo park in during a huge gang fight. The medical examiner corroborated that the cause of death was strangulation. 0000005484 00000 n Christina Almaraz was a childhood friend of both Ertman and Pena. curfew. Villarreal was convicted of murder in 1994 for his involvement in the rape and murder of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, in 1993 during a gang initiation. Ertman was catapulted into his advocacy role by the June 24, 1993, murders of his 14-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and her 16-year-old friend, Elizabeth Pena. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Parole denied for gang member convicted for 1993 murders of Jennifer While were at it maybe some pads for Jorge Sr. for his meets with Bubba. Man convicted of murdering 2 teens in 1993 denied parole - ABC13 Houston Derrick O'Brien, belted to a gurney, looked through the death chamber In August 2008, Ertman again climbed the steps to the red-bricked She and her friend Elizabeth were students at Waltrip High School in Houston. LQ>icb7#f0wNb7tM:q2$`zg A'QS5Cf\ =!4S&1qu+NZbu{Na!P. /Type /Page [n 2] According to trial testimony, both Pea and Ertman repeatedly glanced in the direction of one another several times throughout their ordeal in likely gestures of concern and despair. Posted on 10/09/2007 7:44:26 AM PDT by beaversmom. 0000008539 00000 n You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? After several minutes, 14-year-old Jennifer Louise Ertman became limp and sank to the ground. I went to school with them. Learn more about managing a memorial . Adolph Pena, embraced by his wife, Melissa, wears a shirt showing the pictures of his slain daughter, Elizabeth, left, and her friend, Jennifer Ertman, who were killed by killed by gang members five years ago. I dont knowLaura Ingraham is talking aboutI think I first heard about it the other day from her. I hope his life is, was and remains a misery. Cameras caught Cantu cuffed and escorted by two officers still trying to kick news photographers. Jester, both busy streets. jennifer ertman autopsy photos They knew they would be late if they took the normal path home, down W. 34th Street to T.C. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. I refuse to vote for another RINO, we should not be feared into voting for these one world types who could care less about America, our sovereignty and the constitution. Cantu was the ringleader of five gang members who raped and killed the girls at a Houston park - a crime that horrified the city in 1993. On June 24, 1993, Elizabeth Pena and Jennifer Ertman from Houston, Texas were raped and murdered. Executions and More Executions: Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena Murder /Resources << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << [7] Before the murders, Houston officials had stated that gangs were not a significant issue in the city. "I told him to stick it. One of the gang members grabbed Pena. Death penalty opponents protested the impending execution. Their deaths resulted in an outpouring of grief in the local community and spurred changes in criminal legislation in the state of Texas, which enabled the families of crime victims to speak to the defendant at trial and witness the execution of said defendant.