Post by Melissa on Feb 1, 2011 19:20:23 GMT -5
sharonherald.com/local/x1208365593/Boy-11-charged-with-killing-dads-pregnant-girlfriend
Boy, 11, charged with killing dad's pregnant girlfriend
WAMPUM — An 11-year-old boy who received a shotgun for Christmas has been charged with using it to kill his father's pregnant girlfriend.
Jordan Brown, a fifth-grader, is accused of shooting Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, as she lay in bed at the family farmhouse on Friday morning.
Authorities said the youth fired a single shot from a 20-gauge shotgun into the back of Houk's head, then caught his regular bus to school in this western Pennlyvania farm village just south of New Castle.
He later sent authorities on a wild goose chase when questioned about the killing, saying he had seen a black truck near the farmhouse when he was leaving for school.
It was the second kid killer case in the past four months in the United States. Last November, an 8-year-old boy was charged with the shooting deaths of his father and another man in Arizona.
The county coroner said the Pennsylvania victim was eight months pregnant. He said the gun was fired no more than a foot away, and her unborn child died within minutes of oxygen deprivation.
The boy was taken into custody early Saturday morning after the murder weapon was found in his bedroom. He was charged with two counts of homicide, including the killing of an unborn child.
The victim's brother-in-law, Jason Kramer, said there had been tensions between Ms. Houk and the boy.
"There was an issue with jealousy," said Kramer.
District Attorney John Bongivengo described the slaying as "something you wouldn't ever think of in your worst nightmaare. It's heinous, the whole situation."
Bongivengo said the youth would be charged as an adult under Pennsylvania law, but the boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, said he would ask that the case be assigned to the juvenile court.
The boy's father, Chris Brown, was described as in complete shock and disbelief over the shooting. He had given the shotgun to his son last Christmas so they could hunt together.
Police said they believe the shooting occurred between 7 a.m., when Mr. Brown left for work, and 9 a.m., when the boy and Ms. Houk's older daughter, 7-year-old Jessica, caught their school bus.
The victim's body was discovered about 10 a.m. by her 4-year-old daughter, Adalynn, who told a tree-cutting crew on the property that her mother was dead.
Authorities quickly picked up Jordan Brown and Jessica Houk from school. Jordan told them he had seen a black vehicle in the vicinity of the farmhouse that morning. But his story changed several times during the day.
In the meantime, the 7-year-old daughter told police she had seen the boy with a gun before they left for school, and heard a loud bang.
"She didn't actually eyewitness the shooting," said Bongivengo.
Houk's family and friends, who gathered at her parents' house Saturday night, were befuddled by the slaying.
"An 11-year-old kid — what would give him the motive to shoot someone?" said Houk's father, Jack Houk. "Maybe he was just jealous of my daughter and the baby and thought he would be overpowered."
Defense attorney Elisco said an interview with the boy left the impression "he doesn't know what's going on. I walked out of there thinking he was innocent. I believe Jordan did not do this."
The boy's father, said Elisco, is "a mess" and had no indication his son had a problem with Houk. "He's in a state of actual shock and disbelief."
The shotgun used in the slaying was designed for children. It has a shorter arm and such weapons do not have to be registered, Bongivengo said.
Family members said the boy and his father used to practice shooting behind their farmhouse, and the two enjoyed going hunting together.
Boy, 11, charged with killing dad's pregnant girlfriend
WAMPUM — An 11-year-old boy who received a shotgun for Christmas has been charged with using it to kill his father's pregnant girlfriend.
Jordan Brown, a fifth-grader, is accused of shooting Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, as she lay in bed at the family farmhouse on Friday morning.
Authorities said the youth fired a single shot from a 20-gauge shotgun into the back of Houk's head, then caught his regular bus to school in this western Pennlyvania farm village just south of New Castle.
He later sent authorities on a wild goose chase when questioned about the killing, saying he had seen a black truck near the farmhouse when he was leaving for school.
It was the second kid killer case in the past four months in the United States. Last November, an 8-year-old boy was charged with the shooting deaths of his father and another man in Arizona.
The county coroner said the Pennsylvania victim was eight months pregnant. He said the gun was fired no more than a foot away, and her unborn child died within minutes of oxygen deprivation.
The boy was taken into custody early Saturday morning after the murder weapon was found in his bedroom. He was charged with two counts of homicide, including the killing of an unborn child.
The victim's brother-in-law, Jason Kramer, said there had been tensions between Ms. Houk and the boy.
"There was an issue with jealousy," said Kramer.
District Attorney John Bongivengo described the slaying as "something you wouldn't ever think of in your worst nightmaare. It's heinous, the whole situation."
Bongivengo said the youth would be charged as an adult under Pennsylvania law, but the boy's attorney, Dennis Elisco, said he would ask that the case be assigned to the juvenile court.
The boy's father, Chris Brown, was described as in complete shock and disbelief over the shooting. He had given the shotgun to his son last Christmas so they could hunt together.
Police said they believe the shooting occurred between 7 a.m., when Mr. Brown left for work, and 9 a.m., when the boy and Ms. Houk's older daughter, 7-year-old Jessica, caught their school bus.
The victim's body was discovered about 10 a.m. by her 4-year-old daughter, Adalynn, who told a tree-cutting crew on the property that her mother was dead.
Authorities quickly picked up Jordan Brown and Jessica Houk from school. Jordan told them he had seen a black vehicle in the vicinity of the farmhouse that morning. But his story changed several times during the day.
In the meantime, the 7-year-old daughter told police she had seen the boy with a gun before they left for school, and heard a loud bang.
"She didn't actually eyewitness the shooting," said Bongivengo.
Houk's family and friends, who gathered at her parents' house Saturday night, were befuddled by the slaying.
"An 11-year-old kid — what would give him the motive to shoot someone?" said Houk's father, Jack Houk. "Maybe he was just jealous of my daughter and the baby and thought he would be overpowered."
Defense attorney Elisco said an interview with the boy left the impression "he doesn't know what's going on. I walked out of there thinking he was innocent. I believe Jordan did not do this."
The boy's father, said Elisco, is "a mess" and had no indication his son had a problem with Houk. "He's in a state of actual shock and disbelief."
The shotgun used in the slaying was designed for children. It has a shorter arm and such weapons do not have to be registered, Bongivengo said.
Family members said the boy and his father used to practice shooting behind their farmhouse, and the two enjoyed going hunting together.