HUNTSVILLE, Texas --The State of Texas executed Peter Cantu Tuesday evening for the brutal murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena.
He was the ringleader intheslayings, whichstruck a raw nerve fortheir sheer brutality. The girls were repeatedly gang-raped and tortured before they were killed in a Houston park in 1993.
Seventeen years later, Cantu died alone. No one came to witness on Cantu s behalf when he received his lethal injection.
The injection was performed at 6:09 p.m. By 6:17 p.m. Cantu was pronounced dead. He was 35 and had lived on death row longer than his victims, 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman and 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena, had lived life.
The girls families came to witness the execution and were met by supporters and applause when they walked out of the Walls Unit.
Before this case, relatives were specifically prohibited from watching. Today it is a common occurrence.
Why do I watch? For justice. For justice for my little girl, Elizabeth s father, Adolph Pena, said.
Houstonians were stunned when Cantu and his gang were arrested. Instead of remorse, there was violence from Cantu. Cameras caught the now-famous shot of Cantu cuffed, escorted by two officers and still trying to kick news photographers.
When he finally faced death, Cantu made no apology and had no statement.
Elizabeth s father said he was not surprised.
Nothing he would say to me would make any difference, he said.
In June of 1993, the two girls stumbled across a gang initiation on White Oak Bayou. Six teenagers repeatedly raped, assaulted, then beat the girls to death --beyond recognition.
Hopefully they ll find some peace. What would I tell them? We love them and miss them, Adolph Pena said.
During the trial, the Ertmans asked to address the court. That became another first. Now victim-impact statements are common. Houstonians remember when an angry Randy Ertman stood at the trial and told the killers: We live for the day you die. I hope you rot in hell.
But after the execution Tuesday, things were different. The Ertmans left without saying a word. Randy Ertmans fiery red hair was now grey, and now Cantu was gone. Guards brought out four plastic trash bags, filled with Cantu s wordly possessions -- not much to show for the last 17 years.
With Cantu's death, three of the Pena and Ertman killershavebeenexecuted. Three others have long prison terms. Two of them will come up for parole in 2028. The Ertmans and Penas are videotaping their protest for the parole board, in case they are not here in 18 years to protest in person.
For the families, it is a fight they will take beyond the grave.
