Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Troopers in 2009 Murder Case Moves Toward Trial

Jordan Brown, exonerated of murder charges in 2018, is preparing to bring his federal civil rights case against Pennsylvania State Police to trial. Brown, who was only 11 when he was accused of killing his father’s pregnant fiancée in 2009, alleges misconduct by four former troopers, including fabrication of evidence and wrongful arrest.

The trial is set to begin next month in Pittsburgh, nearly 16 years after the tragic events that led to his wrongful conviction.

Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration

In February 2009, Kenzie Marie Houk was found fatally shot in her bed at her farmhouse in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Police accused Brown, then a fifth-grader, of using a youth-model shotgun to kill Houk before heading to school with her 7-year-old daughter.

Despite a lack of eyewitness testimony, DNA, or forensic evidence tying Brown to the crime, he was charged as an adult before his case was moved to juvenile court. In 2012, Brown was adjudicated delinquent—a juvenile equivalent of a guilty verdict—and remained in custody until he turned 18.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2018, citing insufficient evidence, and Brown was exonerated.

Civil Rights Lawsuit Targets Investigation

Brown’s federal lawsuit names four former troopers who led the investigation, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights by fabricating evidence and filing charges without probable cause. One of the officers is now deceased.

According to the lawsuit, investigators relied on unreliable interviews with Houk’s 7-year-old daughter, who claimed she heard a “big boom” and saw Brown with two guns. The state Supreme Court later found the interviews were inconsistent and contradicted other evidence.

The lawsuit also alleges that police failed to thoroughly investigate other potential suspects, including Houk’s ex-boyfriend, who had allegedly made death threats against her.

The troopers deny the allegations, maintaining they had probable cause to charge Brown based on his access to the weapon and opportunity to commit the crime.

Seeking Justice and Compensation

Pennsylvania is one of the few states without laws compensating individuals for wrongful convictions, leaving lawsuits as the only recourse for exonerees. Brown is seeking damages for emotional trauma, lost wages, legal costs, and the years he spent in juvenile detention.

His attorney, Alec Wright, emphasized the emotional toll of Brown’s incarceration, stating, “At 11 years old, Jordan didn’t fully understand his situation. He had to choose between succumbing to despair or holding onto hope that his family’s promise of freedom would come true.”