Post by Melissa on Feb 1, 2011 21:20:29 GMT -5
www.wpxi.com/news/18788989/detail.html
11-Year-Old Murder Suspect's Family Says He's No Killer
Updated: 6:17 pm EST February 25, 2009
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The grandmother and uncle of an 11-year-old boy accused of shooting his father’s pregnant fiancée have come forward to speak in his defense.
Jordan Brown had been housed in the Lawrence County Jail since he was arrested for allegedly shooting Kenzie Houk in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun as she slept on Friday.
Brown's mother didn't want to go on camera but told her family to speak on her behalf.
“I can’t fathom that he would do that,” said Brown's grandmother, Grace Krause.
"Nobody can make me believe he did it," Krause said. "I just wish I could hold him and let him know how much I love him."
The Brown family told Channel 11 that the boy's mother, Mildred, gave custody of the boy to his father, Chris Brown, because she had cancer. They said Brown's mother wanted the boy to have a stable home life while she was in and out of the hospital dealing with her medical condition.
"We want him to know (we) love him, and (we'll) be here for him 100 percent," said Jordan Brown's uncle, Jonathan Krause.
"He's just a typical kid," he said. "You don't just wake up and say, 'Today's the day.'"
On Tuesday, hundreds lined up outside the DeCarbo Funeral Home in New Castle to say goodbye to 26-year-old Houk and her unborn son.
There wasn't enough room for all of those who wanted to pay their respects Tuesday night to the mother of two who was fatally shot last week in her Wampum home.
"Kenzie was just a sweet, beautiful girl, a super mother and I'm just devastated by the whole thing," said Houk's uncle, Willard Houk.
Those close to Houk said her fiance came and left the funeral home before her family arrived.
"He wanted to come up and grieve with the family members, but some of the family thought that might not be a good idea at this time. I like Chris. It's a shame this had to happen," said Willard Houk.
Houk said Kenzie's parents and sister are still having a difficult time coping with her death.
The family said Monday night that they believe Jordan belongs in jail, and that he fully understood the danger of guns, and that he killed out of jealousy for his father's attention.
Jordan Brown's preliminary hearing is set for March 24.
11-Year-Old Murder Suspect's Family Says He's No Killer
Updated: 6:17 pm EST February 25, 2009
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The grandmother and uncle of an 11-year-old boy accused of shooting his father’s pregnant fiancée have come forward to speak in his defense.
Jordan Brown had been housed in the Lawrence County Jail since he was arrested for allegedly shooting Kenzie Houk in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun as she slept on Friday.
Brown's mother didn't want to go on camera but told her family to speak on her behalf.
“I can’t fathom that he would do that,” said Brown's grandmother, Grace Krause.
"Nobody can make me believe he did it," Krause said. "I just wish I could hold him and let him know how much I love him."
The Brown family told Channel 11 that the boy's mother, Mildred, gave custody of the boy to his father, Chris Brown, because she had cancer. They said Brown's mother wanted the boy to have a stable home life while she was in and out of the hospital dealing with her medical condition.
"We want him to know (we) love him, and (we'll) be here for him 100 percent," said Jordan Brown's uncle, Jonathan Krause.
"He's just a typical kid," he said. "You don't just wake up and say, 'Today's the day.'"
On Tuesday, hundreds lined up outside the DeCarbo Funeral Home in New Castle to say goodbye to 26-year-old Houk and her unborn son.
There wasn't enough room for all of those who wanted to pay their respects Tuesday night to the mother of two who was fatally shot last week in her Wampum home.
"Kenzie was just a sweet, beautiful girl, a super mother and I'm just devastated by the whole thing," said Houk's uncle, Willard Houk.
Those close to Houk said her fiance came and left the funeral home before her family arrived.
"He wanted to come up and grieve with the family members, but some of the family thought that might not be a good idea at this time. I like Chris. It's a shame this had to happen," said Willard Houk.
Houk said Kenzie's parents and sister are still having a difficult time coping with her death.
The family said Monday night that they believe Jordan belongs in jail, and that he fully understood the danger of guns, and that he killed out of jealousy for his father's attention.
Jordan Brown's preliminary hearing is set for March 24.