Many Still Remember What This Young Man Did Years Before He Became a Senator

If you are old enough you may remember in 1993, on the night of June 24, Houston, when Texas teens Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14, spent the evening with friends at a pool party.

As their curfews approached, they decided to take a shortcut along the railroad tracks near T.C. Jester Park—a decision that tragically placed them in the path of danger.

Deadly Gang Encounter

In the park, the girls crossed paths with members of a street gang known as the Black and White gang. The group had gathered to celebrate the initiation of Raul Villarreal and Efrain Pérez, but their aggression turned on Elizabeth and Jennifer.

The girls were dragged into the nearby woods, where they endured unspeakable abuse. For over an hour, the attackers brutally assaulted and raped Elizabeth and Jennifer before ultimately strangling them with shoelaces and a belt. The men hid the two girls’ bodies in the park.

Discovery and Arrests

When Elizabeth and Jennifer never came home, their families reported them missing. After four days, their decomposed bodies were discovered, confirming the families’ worst fears. The brutality of the crime and the ages of the victims pushed the case into national headlines.

The investigation led to the arrest of six young men who were caught and tried, found guilty and all, except one who was a juvenile, were sentenced to death. One of the men had lived here illegally most of his life.

Venancio Medellín (14) – Too young for the death penalty, he received 40 years in prison.

Peter Cantu (18) – Gang leader, sentenced to death and executed in 2010.

José Medellín (18) – Sentenced to death and executed in 2008.

Derrick O’Brien (18) – Sentenced to death and executed in 2006.

Efrain Pérez (17) – Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years due to his age.

Raúl Villarreal (17) – Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years due to his age.

A few years later the United Nations World Court with 60 countries siding with them said Texas violated Medellin’s rights by not informing him of his right to contact his consulate.

President George Bush and Secretary Condi Rice ordered Texas to release him to keep peace with the U.N.

The parents of those girls were so shocked and devastated that this man would go free. Then, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott assigned one of his junior attorneys (solicitor general) to the case. He went on to argue before the Supreme Court to not allow this murderer to go free.

The Texas attorney argued that the Constitution clearly states that the United States is a sovereign nation and no other nation has jurisdiction over our laws. All 60 countries were there arguing against this one attorney from Texas. He won the case, and Texas executed the offender in 2005.

That junior attorney (solicitor genera) was Ted Cruz.

Many Texans vote for him at every opportunity because Cruz was skilled and cared enough for those girls instead of bowing down to United Nations who was protecting a murderer and fought for the injustice.