Posted by: mylifeofcrime | February 21, 2009

Kenzie Marie Houk murder 2/20/2009 Wampum, PA *11 year old Jordan Brown, son of her boyfriend, arrested for the murder of Kenzie Houk, who was 8 months pregnant*

kenzie-marie-houk
                                 Kenzie Marie Houk

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Pa. boy, 11, charged with killing pregnant woman
11-Year-Old Boy Charged In Murder Of Pregnant Woman
11-Year-Old Charged With Killing Pregnant Woman
Boy Shoots Dad’s Pregnant Fiancee Before School, Police Say
11-YR.-OLD ‘SLAYS’ HIS DAD’S GAL

jordanbrown
                                    Jordan Brown



Responses

  1. I’m sure all the ‘don’t charge kids as adults’ people will be all over this one.

  2. I saw this story on the news earlier. It caught my interest, because I am from the area, In which the woman lived. After seeing this, I got on Myspace, and looked up both the woman and “live in boyfriend”. I was shocked to see the status of Christopher brown (The live in boyfriend) to be “There is a person that is going to die”. It was also odd, that Chris last logged onto Myspace, On the 9th of February. I do not think the little boy committed this crime. If it is possible that he did do this, I am wondering if his father put him up to it. I tried to reach Crime Stoppers in that area, And left a tip of what I saw. I do not know if they will use it or not. But I’m hoping people will look further into this, As a possibility.

  3. Trench,

    Yeah, I expect to see that and people saying he could nto have done this. Well, from what I have read, he was jealous of the attention his dad gave Kenzie and the baby, and he even told someone he wanted to kill her. He knew what he was doing and he is old enough to know that murder is wrong and illegal. And I bet he knew she was pregnant too! So, I do not feel sorry for him. My compassion is for Kenzie and her unborn son.

  4. try him as an adult!!!!!!!!!!!!

    note from blog owner
    He has been charged as an adult.

  5. I have a friend who used to date chris brown. I showed her the pic of his myspace profile. She said that was him. I dont kn ow wehat the first comment’s author is talking about. It says his mood was loved and that he last logged in in 2008. She needs to get her facts straight before leaving a comment that involved Crime Stoppers. He had to know she was pregnant, she was 8 months. It’s a tragedy. What would make an 11 year old want to kill 2 people?

  6. This is so very sad for that entire family. Why wasn’t the gun locked up?

  7. A.K.A Would you put those links for the Myspace in here? Please. Thank You

  8. This case is so tragic! The first thing I thought was that the boy must have been insanley jealous of the girlfriend and the baby. I just wonder what the catalyst was for such an event?

  9. I felt sorry for the Father!!

  10. Distrusting why did this small boy muder..

  11. I’m sorry, but an elevan year old doesn’t understand the consequences of their actions. The part of the brain that controls and analyzes this type of information doesn’t fully develop until the late 20′s! This is why “young adults” do such stupid stunts–

    This is a child who has committed a terrible deed. Yes, there will be consequences, but it is the parents who should be held responsible. Everyone is gun crazy, and yet people do not lock up their weapons. Not only that, but kids are allowed to watch age inappropriate tv and movies and then they act out of what they see.

    If you think this kid knew what he was doing, and the consequences, then you are wrong. It is sad, it is a terrible thing. The child needs help to deal with whatever is going on in his head, but to hold this child as an adult is proposterous.

  12. This is so sad. How can anyone Murder such a lovely woman and one who is pregnant at that? I mean how jealous was this eleven year old boy? I’m a child of divorce and I’m sure I’ve been jelous of eitheir parents signifigant others, and the fact my half brothers get to grow up with my dad and I didn’t. But to Kill someone? Thats inconceivable to me. There is no justfication to hurt or kill anyone ever, and this boy really scares me. The look he wears in his mugshot is disturbing.
    I pray for poor Kenzie who was so senselessly taken from her friends and family, and for the little baby she was carrying who never got a chance to live. I pray for her poor little 4 year old daughter who had to find her mother like that, and for Kenzie’s friends and family. I pray for all parties involved and hope that Kenzie and her baby are finding peace in the heaven and that her family finds comfort here on earth.

  13. First, why was an 11yr old, 7yr old up getting themselves ready for school alone in the first place? Second, I was raised in a home with Firearms and all of the recommended locks, classes, clubs, etc. – but if left alone, I would try my damndest to get my rifle free so that i could take it horseback and “pretend” to defend my farm… kids are kids; thats why they are given parents o guide them… period.
    Third, I agree with peppermintpatty777 – there is a juvenile court system for a reason; unless you have been incarcerated I would suspect that you have no idea what happens to the weak and vulnerable… or everyoen else for that matter. Let me pose this question – If a mentally disabled adult committed such a crime and was deterimined to have the ‘mentality and maturity” of an 11yr old would recommend prison or the death penalty?

    “Significant recent studies have found that the majority of juveniles on death row had terrible childhoods, with backgrounds of physical or sexual abuse, “profound psychological disorders, low IQ, indigence, and/or intensive substance abuse.”7 Moreover, recent studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have found that adolescent brains are far less developed than previously thought; that the brain development process continues into the early 20′s; that “the parts of the brain that govern judgment, reasoning and impulse control are not fully developed until the early twenties”; that due to the underdevelopment of this portion of the brain teenagers rely heavily on another part of the brain responsible for “gut reactions”; that this reliance continues until the early twenties and is found more among males than females.8

    These studies confirm the long-accepted view in our society about the lesser maturity of juveniles—the main reason for which our society, by law, excludes persons below 18 years from a range of activities such as voting, serving on juries or in the military, marrying, entering into contracts, purchasing alcohol and tobacco products, and executing wills and holds that minors should not be held accountable for their actions to the same degree as adults.”

  14. Here are the myspace profiles for both Kenzie and Chris.

    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=99362415

    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=230584130

  15. This situation could have been prevented. The child should not have had access to a DEADLY WEAPON. There is a reason that hunter’s safety courses here where we live begin at age TWELVE. I live 4 miles from where this happened and my son attended the safety course about a mile from where this occurred. Why on Earth would a father allow their young CHILD to keep a weapon in their bedroom? I blame the parent! The child was jealous. If there was no access to the lethal weapon, he would still be just a jealous little boy….not a murderer. As a mother of three, I truly feel for this child. It is so hard to feel bad for him, yet at the same time feel he should be locked away from society. The damage has been done, and now he needs to be punished with jail time for life. He will likely be “raised” in the jail system and if he is tried as a juvenile, will be out when he’s 21. Then what will he be? A product of the jail system and a young man capable of murder. Lock hijm up for good…he took two lives and ruined the lives of so many others!

  16. peppermint,
    You are right, to a certain extent. I believe that an 11 year old KNOWS that a gun will kill someone if he points it at a person and shoots.

  17. I just saw a little blurb on Yahoo news that the 11 year old had planned the killing. Need to read it though.

  18. Okay here is the address to the article
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_re_us/pregnant_woman_killed
    I’m not very good at posting links. Sorru ;0/
    Bonnie, I hope you don’t mind me posting this.
    Thanks.
    -Katie

  19. Wow. New Castle is my hometown and I went to high school with this girl. Cannot believe this happened. Totally shocked. Thank god they are trying him as an adult. Such a senseless crime.

  20. The morning news said that the gun was actually given to the 11 yr old boy as a gift from his dad. So why would it be locked up? This seems like an irresponsible father.

  21. adult crimes deserve adult time. regardless of the gun situation, you can’t blame a child’s parents for every action that a child does. an eleven year old understands the difference between right and wrong. if he didn’t realize what he was doing was wrong then he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to hide all the evidence. im sorry, but he committed and “adult” crime that took the lives of two people. it’s not like he stole a pack of gum from wal-mart here folks…

  22. The fact of the matter is that tragically the mother of two is now gone. Would she be gone if the child hadn’t been given a gun? Would she be gone if her brother in law had brought up the child’s “threats” in an effort to obtain help for this child. Would she be gone, if as a parents, she and the boys father had safely kept the guns in the house locked up. We forget that this is still a CHILD. While we can reason he is 11 and he knows that murder is wrong, we can also argue that all 11 yr olds also know they should do their homework, their chores, bathe, etc. and still as PARENTS we must remind them and GUIDE them. According to reports from family and the press this 11 yr old was dealing with EMOTIONAL, STRESSFUL, CONFUSING changes in his life, why didn’t anyone HELP him then. Why are the same adults that were in the position to help him wanting to condemn him now? Why would you admit to knowing the child had a propensity for violence but not admit to sharing responsibility to helping that child with this violence. Why is it that if an ADULT can become overwhelmed, stressed, and angered to the point of murder (however wrong it may be) that some of us naively believe that a child can’t be. This should be a wake up call to all families, and society as a whole. The fact that children today are more aware and to some extent mature does not exonerate us from the repsonsibility to parent, nurture and guide our youth. My opinion is that the family should recognize that as the ADULTS, as his “FAMILY” their actions or lack thereof contributed to this tragedy and as such they instead of turning their backs on him, judging him, and wishing him the worst of punishments, should recognize that they too share in his CULPABILITY.

    Most importantly, let us all remember that we are innocent until proven guilty and we have not even scratched the surface and what really happened.

  23. I was reading some forums about this one and all people seemed to talk about was that this would make people more against weapons. Why are the americans so obsessed with guns? There is no reason for a none-hunter, cop or someone like this to own a gun. Less guns, less killing. Give me some good reasons to why normal people should have a gun? To defend themselves? No way. I never had a gun and never had any problems of defending myself. With a gun, you quickly can become a killer.

  24. Unfortunately I think if this kid wanted Kenzie’s demise……he would figure out a way with or without the gun! I hate that the people on many boards are making the victim out to be the bad guy here. Any 11 year old that can get on a bus and act normal after doing something like that has ISSUES! Where was his BIO mom? Why didn’t he live with her? Alot of unanswered questions. Just think of how the little girl that found her mother has to remember her mother! This is all so tragic! But I say, this boy needs to be accountable for this. It was an execution style MURDER! His attorney wants to get him out on bail! HMMMMMMMMMM…would you want this kid to return back to school where your kids go?? Serial killers start out very young and unfortunately this could be one of those bad seeds! This is just tragic no matter what way you look at it. My heart goes out to both families!

  25. [...] Kenzie Marie Houk murder 2/20/2009 Wampum, PA *11 year old Jordan Brown, son of her boyfriend, arre…                                  Kenzie Marie Houk Child Finds Murdered Pregnant Woman [...] [...]

  26. Does anyone remember, I think it was last year, it was a murder of a family (mom, dad and brother) in a small town and the daughter survived…and called 911…it was called a ‘small town murder mystery” as someone basically entered the home in the middle of the night…i just watched nancy grace and thought of that case for some reason but cant remember any more details of it…does anyone know anything about it?

  27. I am from New Castle; I believe exactly as the DA has stated that this was a cold blooded murder. This boy had made threats to kill Kenzie and the children at Christmas time but they did not think he was serious.
    Kenzie was eight and a half months pregnant, due date was March 8th, and that little baby was already 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 191/2 inches long.
    How dare this public defender describe him as any normal eleven year old! He wants him out on bail; he has no children, how can he possibly comprehend this family’s loss?
    We do not want him on our streets with our children or in our schools.
    Charge him as an adult; he became an adult when he chose to kill two people!!!!!!!!

  28. I knew her, and her two daughters. She came to North Carolina to visit her old friend that moved here. I was bestfriends with her friends daughter. She came and picked me up with Taylor, and her two daughters to drive and pick up a playset. She was a very nice women. RIP Kenzie. :[

  29. As I start my post I do want to say that murdering someone is not a way to deal with the situation. I am a human being coming from a divorced family. I grew up unhappy and knowing my step father didn’t like us kids. Did we act different around my mother, most certainly and so did my step dad. Unless you have experienced what a child in a divorced family is like, you can not judge this kid. I would lay money that he cried out for help numerous ways but no one acted on his cry for help. I bet things between Kenzie and Jordan were not as stated in all of these article out there. What a family member sees is different than what happends behind closed doors. Everyone can go on and on about him being jealous, but what was the real sitation like!! You will never know. Do you know why? Like I said before the family on the outside knows NOTHING what goes on behind the doors of the house. Even the ‘real’ parent, this one being Chris has no idea what the situation is and he is there everyday. I say this because I am now a step parent and the ‘real’ parent (not step parent) tries to keep everything at peace in their mind. They want to keep both sides (one being the child and the ‘step’ parent happy). In turn, many things go unnoticed as did many cries for help probably get turned down.
    My prayers go out to everyone involved because it shouldn’t have come to this, but is a wake up call to the nation of divorced families to notice cries for help.
    I’m not turning the blame on the victim, but I do hope everyone looks at both sides to the full extent and not just the outcome of the situation.
    I would not hesitate to house this boy in my home. He is an 11 year old and yes knows right from wrong, but if I were to ask my nephew if he would know the outcome of something like this, I bet he has no idea its a life sentence. If I were to ask my step child who is 5 years older if he knew the outcome I am sure he would know. My point is back to the cries for help.
    Was Jodan left behind like many children of divorced parents are? Was her family loving to him just as much as her 2 children? I doubt is as it’s a rare thing for families to accept step children like a real grandchild or real nephew. Was he invited everywhere the other 2 kids where, probably not. He was probably an innocent victim of step child left behind..
    Before you judge my post you must think of all sides of the situation.

  30. I really don’t understand why them kids were up by them self’s getting ready for school I have 5 and when they were little I was up with them .This does not make sense .The 4 year old had to get up by her self and fine her mommy dead…….The brother in law should of told Christopher Brown about the threat so he is to blame a little also Christopher Brown is to blame what he did not see this he is Jordan’s father for god sake.Christopher Brown was not at the funeral that’s sad and unforgiving to me ..He loved her we think he wanted that baby we think..ask yourself did he really want all this .My kids were raised in a house full of guns LOCKED guns period Christopher Brown should have to pay for some of this and to be honest I do not believe this boy acted alone he is only 11 to have knowledge of knowing to cover the gun to toss the shell come on and where is this man who loved this woman where is he where is his love for her now where is his pain we have not seen that ,So he did not love her like all thinks……Bless them little girls for not having there mother around .There must of been a lot of drama in that house for this to happen…..Bless all in this someone will pay but it will not be for long.My father in law was murdered and the man who did it served 20 years and his murderer is a free man today.This boy did not act alone he does not have mental capably to think like a murderer …….. crap he is only 11 years old …….

  31. The voice of reason is apparent with the person who thinks Chris Brown should be held accountable.

    The myth of Adult crime?Adult Time is gone, surgeon general says so:

    Myth: Getting tough with juvenile offenders by trying them in adult criminal courts reduces the likelihood that they will commit more crimes.

    Fact: Youths transferred to adult criminal court have significantly higher rates of re-offending and a greater likelihood of committing subsequent felonies than youths who remain in the juvenile justice system. They are also more likely to be victimized, physically and sexually.

    http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/pressreleases/pr_youthviolence.htm

  32. i’m writing a paper on this and i believe that this boy had his oppurtunity at a great, wonderful life. But when he took that gun held it up and fired it at his father’s pregnant girlfriend, he lost that oppurtunity. he should be tried as an adult.

  33. Been following this story since Feb. 09 and whether Jordan Brown did or didn’t do this has yet to be determined (according to media there seems to be a lot of speculations and assumptions) but we as a society better be VERY afraid when we have state laws (and DA’s) that can lock up children this young forever without the chance of ever getting out again. Children this young need help which they will not get in prison. Society, as well as the victim’s, need to remember that these laws also apply to our own children/grandchildren. Don’t say it can’t happen to your child or your child would not do this or that because if you asked these parents whose children are locked up for life, I am sure they said the same thing.

    The laws to lock up children under 18 years old in adult prisons need to change NOW!!!!! Children need to be held accountable for their actions but not on an adult level because they are not adults!!! They cannot be deemed adults in one aspect of the law (crime) and not be in another (voting, drinking, joining the military, they even need parent permission to go on a school field trip, etc….). Locking children up in adult prisons is not a life sentence it is a death sentence to these children especially when we have far worse adults out on our streets. Sentencing children under 18 years old as adults and in some cases locking them up forever with no chance of parole is saying that these children are worse then the child molesters living in our neighborhoods, it is saying they are worse than the drunk driving who serves a few years for killing someone while driving drunk, it is saying that they are worse than the drug dealers who return back to their corner, it says that they are worse than the adults who have killed and have gotten only a few years WITH parole. Think about it!!!!

  34. I was a dear friend of Kenzie’s. We were friends since she was 15 we have been through some crazy times, but all in all she never deserved this. These two little girls lost their mom. They are the victims but yet it all seems like they were the ones who got a life sentence the day their mother was murdered. No matter what people say the bottom line is that Kenzie was murdered and someone did it. So with that said the police and Commonwealth of PA have gathered the information that they could to piece together and solve this case. All in all there needs to be closure and some piece for her family and friends. It bothers me that people say “oh what a poor thing for that little boy”. Well everyone needs not to forget about the two little girls who have no mom to guide them through life; who will do their hair, talk to them about the birds and bees, who will watch them grow into young women who will be there for them to lean on and go through lifes adventures. WHO WILL THAT SOMEONE BE? Yes they have people that love and care for them but as we all know it not the same as our mom. RIP Kenzie, we love you and miss you.

  35. That is so sad but we all have to remember she is in a better place!

  36. Uhmm . . . yeah. WHY is everyone so certain this kid did this? Why isn’t dad being looked at more closely, either as the person to pull the trigger or the person to encourage the trigger be pulled? It doesn’t add up why the kid suddenly has a new gun, it’s unlocked, he’s getting up by himself to leave for school. Dad is concerned with son, what about with his dead girlfriend and child? Pregnancy is one of the leading risk factors for murder–usually by the expectant father. I am just wondering what the evidence is & how it so clearly points to son not dad? WTH? I’d sure like to know what the evidence they have in possession is.

  37. Well I see your point but the case might be that the kid is living in a poor family with many siblings and could not afford to have another sibling so he decided to do something.

    • You have got to be kidding me??? Kill a pregnant woman just so she would not give birth to a child? That is totally unacceptable. And from what I heard, that is not the motive and far from the truth. How can you possibly justify this like that?

  38. What Ben said may be the 2nd most stupid defense I’ve heard so far.

    The most stupid would be at http://crimene.ws/thetrenchcoat-chronicles/2010/3/30/jordan-brown-to-be-tried-as-an-adult.html#comment-43177930

    • It is as if most people want to excuse this child for murdering a pregnant woman. Amazing to me! And I believe at 11 years old, a person should already know that it is wrong to kill.

  39. Not to mention that if this kid was a 12-year-old black gang banger from the hood who killed someone in a drive by no one would even notice.

  40. Jordan Brown is innocent he did not commit this crime! He is a normal little boy. This is so sad. There is fraud in the investigation. I can’t believe no-one wants to find the real killer.

    • Rhonda,

      What is your evidence? But please do not disrespect us and use his age as an excuse. Many kids his age and younger have committed premeditated murder. And remember, there was gunshot residue on his shirt that he was wearing that night. How do you get around that?

  41. He went through the effort to cover up his crime. How can you say there’s another killer?

  42. I don’t believe the child did this crime. He had no blood or anything that he should have had on his clothes. She had a small hole in her. Doesn’t it tell you it wasn’t his shotgun? The blanket they said was a cigarette burn. Something is going on with this.

    • No, it was not said to be a cigarette burn. It said the size of one, which is also the size of a bullet hole. And what do you mean he did not have anything on his clothes he should have if he shot her? What about the gunshot residue that was all over his shirt? Due to his height and the distance she was from him, it is not unreasonable to not have blood on him. But there was residue. But everyone can ignore that if you want. Keep your heads in the sand.

      So, Rhonda, who did it then, since only he and the 7 year old were there with Kenzie? So do you want to blame the 7 year old instead?

  43. They did not find any fibers from the blanket. He was tall enough. He hunted with his father. He had residue on his other shirts also. No I do not think it was the 7 year old. The ex-boyfriend killed her. He said he did. They pointed fingers at jordan and would not look further. It is scary that the real killer is out there. Jordan was terrified. He will not admit to the crime because he did not do this.

    • Where did you read that the ex-boyfriend confessed. Exactly where. I have searched and found nothing to verify that.

  44. The black truck Jordan spoke of, police did take seriously. They went to investigate Kenzie’s ex-boyfriend, only to find his truck covered in snow (not a truck that had been driven to New Galilee, PA., at least a 20 minute drive, if not longer, from his home, one way to Kenzie’s home, then drove back). He was questioned, his alibi checked out.

    http://kenziehouksstoryandfacts.com/page2.html

  45. They did not check him out enough! Jordan Brown is innocent! Jordans shotgun was not used!

    • Rhonda,

      Where did you hear that it was not his gun? Specifically where? And if it was not his gun that was used, does that specifically mean that he could not have used a different gun or could it have only been the owner of the gun that was used that shot Kenzie and her unborn baby? It has been unheard of that a killer would use someone else’s gun, right?

      Is there a reason why so few care about the real victims here? Kenzie and her unborn child did not have a choice in this. Who is there for them? It sickens me that so many of you care so little for her. And don’t suddenly now say you do when you have not said one word of compassion for her, only that Jordan (the only person in the home with her) could never have done it. Next thing, you will claim that she did it to herself. I am sorry, but 11-year-olds have killed before and probably will again. Just because he is young does not mean he could not have done it. If you actually believe that, then please tell that to the parents of 5 year old Eric Morse.

  46. Did the father or the ex-boyfriend have the opportunity and motive to kill Kenzie? If not, then you’re just blaming them because they’re adults and Jordan’s a kid.

  47. Sometimes children of divorce due hate. They hate a father for loving someone else or they can hate a mom for loving someone else. Why was this not the first consideration here. If the resentment was there why was that not dealt with. There is enough help out there that if those children had to be somewhere else they could have been. Now you have a community in shock and an entire family surrounded by sadness. What would the outcome have been if the gun had not been there? Adults have the right to live a certain life after divorce, but they also have the responsibility to see the effect that it has on children, to take the appropriate measures to keep their actions private.

    • So, you don’t think he knew right from wrong due to hate? I had more than one stepmother than I did not like at all, but I never once thought about killing her, regardless of the situation. I knew that killing a person was wrong from a young age. So did my daughter.


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