A boy, then 11, charged with killing his father's fiancée and her unborn child was released from juvenile detention Monday, the victim's mother told WPXI.
Kenzie Houk was 26 years old and 8 months pregnant when she was killed in 2009. Her mother told WPXI's Catherine Varnum via phone Monday night that Jordan Brown, who was convicted as a juvenile in Houk's murder, is back on the streets.
Brown was adjudicated delinquent in 2012 in the shotgun death of his father’s fiancée, which is the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty verdict. But the now 18-year-old has been fighting to prove he’s innocent.
Brown was released Monday after a hearing on part of his placement review, which determines whether a juvenile has been held responsible for their crimes and has gone through rehabilitation.
“The disposition review hearing went very well and was favorable, and they reached an agreement to his disposition,” Brown’s attorney told Varnum over the phone.
He declined to comment further because it’s a juvenile case.
He did add, however, that Brown graduated from high school Saturday, and has been accepted into a college.
Brown’s court appearance Monday is separate from his hearing last month.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court is deciding on an appeal filed by Brown’s attorney regarding the judge's refusal to grant a new juvenile court trial for Brown. The appeals court previously allowed Brown to ask Lawrence County Judge John Hodge to dismiss the charges or grant him a new juvenile court trial.
Last year, Hodge refused to do either. What’s next will now be up to that court.
So far, there’s been no word on when the court will make a decision on the appeal.
Varnum reported that while Brown has been released, it doesn’t mean he’s a free man. He will continue to make court appearances for status hearings.
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