Murder of Jan Pawel and Quiana Jenkins Pietrzak

The Murder of Jan Pawel Pietrzak and Quiana Jenkins Pietrzak relates to the events surrounding the 2008 deaths of United States Marine Corps Sergeant Jan Pawel Pietrzak (March 13, 1984 – October 15, 2008) and his 26-year-old wife Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak (c. 1982 - October 15, 2008).

Overview

Pietrzak was a Polish American who joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003. After a tour in Iraq as a helicopter mechanic, Pietrzak returned to the United States, where he met and married Jenkins, an African-American. Together, they owned and lived in a house in Winchester, a census-designated place in Riverside County, California, located near the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where Pietrzak worked.

On October 15, 2008, four African-American Marines entered the Pietrzak home, raped Jenkins-Pietrzak and tortured the couple for several hours before killing them. Two of the four accused Marines worked under Pietrzak's command. Despite efforts to convey the event as being racially motivated, Riverside County authorities maintain the motivation was robbery, and the pending murder with special circumstances and rape charges do not include an assertion that the crime was racially motivated. All four of the accused have pleaded not guilty to murdering Pietrzak and his wife.

After meeting with the families of the deceased, District Attorney Rod Pacheco decided to seek the death penalty on January 22, 2009. The preliminary trial hearings to determine whether the four assailants would stand trial occurred on March 26, 2009^[1], and April 3, 2009 in San Diego.^[2]

Background

Jan Pawel Pietrzak and Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak

Jan Pawel Pietrzak, named after Pope John Paul II,^[3] was born in 1984 in Poland, either in Kłodzko^[4] or in Świdnica.^[5] In 1994, when Pietrzak was age ten, his family emigrated to the U.S., and settled in the Bensonhurst neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.

Pietrzak joined the Marines in 2003,^[5] became a helicopter mechanic and was sent to Iraq. After his return, he married Jenkins, whom he had met in 2005 at a party for Marines being deployed to Iraq. Jenkins, who worked for the local Black Infant Care Center,^[6] was initially reluctant to date a Marine. But Pietrzak won her over, and they were married on August 8, 2008. They bought a house in May in Winchester, an exurb of San Diego, near Camp Pendleton, and Pietrzak remained in the Marines, working as a helicopter airframe mechanic at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Death

On October 15, 2008, a group of four Marines entered the Pietrzak home. It was not initially known how they managed to get in as Jenkins-Pietrzak was very careful about security and had equipped the house with an alarm.^[4] Later, it was alleged that Tyrone Miller forced entry into the residence by pointing a shotgun at Pietrzak.^[7]

After a short skirmish, the couple were tied and gagged. Jenkins-Pietrzak was then raped as her husband was forced to watch. The couple were then tortured for several hours. Finally, both were shot in the head, execution-style. A fire was set in the home, apparently to destroy evidence of the crime.^[8] Lance Cpl. Emrys John, age 18, of Maryland, Lance Cpl. Kesuan Sykes, age 21, of California, Pvt. Kevin Darnell Cox, 20, of Tennessee, and Lance Cpl. Tyrone Miller, age 20, of North Carolina were charged with the murders. Two of the four Marines charged in the execution-style murders worked for Pietrzak.^[9][10][11] Three of the suspects claim that the shooter was 18-year-old John.^[8] Miller and Cox have reportedly confessed to the murders, although all four suspects have accused the others of raping Jenkins-Pietrzak. Shortly before the murder, John posted "Chillin waitin 4 da killin" on his MySpace page.^[12]

Racial hatred, over burglary, debated as motives during arrests

Three days after the murder, the Los Angeles Times ran an October 18, 2008, news brief noting that the bodies were identified on October 17.^[13] On Monday, November 3, the Sheriff's Department announced that it had four Marines under arrest for the murders.^[14] As part of the November 3 announcement, the Sheriff's Department noted that investigators had found numerous items of evidence since October 15 linking the four to the killings, even though the killers set a fire in the house to destroy evidence.^[14] On November 6, CNN television news journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell reported that the four Marines under arrest were African American and raised the possibility of race as a motivation, stating,

The four suspects are African-American. The woman who was murdered is African-American. Her husband is white. Is there a racial motive here that authorities are looking into? Because you can't just say it's about money when there's sexual assault.^[15]

In early November, the four Marines were charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances — murder during commission of a felony, murder during commission of a robbery and committing more than one offense. They additionally face one charge each of rape and the District Attorney's office will decide if to pursue death sentences.^[7] Just after the release of the charges, the New York Post ran a story entitled "A Few 'Bad' Men - Race Eyed in Marine Dual Slay" which noted that the four accused Marines "could face the death penalty amid speculation the mixed-race couple was targeted in a bias attack."^[16] At about the same time, District Attorney Rod Pacheco emphasized the robbery motive, commenting, "To burglarize their home and then to treat them in the way they did before they died and to murder them — it's hard for our minds to comprehend this kind of savagery."^[8]

By mid-November, the Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide unit responded to the race motivation issue, stating "There's nothing to suggest what happened was a racial crime."^[17] Detectives said jewelry, a camera, and wedding gifts had been stolen, and that some of the items were found in the suspects' barracks.^[18][19]

Despite the conclusion proposed by the investigators, the couple's parents and many in the general populace, as shown by blogs and posts over the Internet, continue to believe that there was a possible racial motive, particularly since Jenkins-Pietrzak was raped, there was evidence of premeditation in the murders (as 'killin' was stated on one of the perpetrators MySpace before the murders) and the Pietrzaks were tortured before being killed execution style.^[12][17][20] Anti-miscegenation racial epithets in the form of "Nigger Lover" were found on the wall near the master bedroom and on a bathroom mirror.^[21]. While some have claimed this was a misdirection attempt, the graffiti shows that the interracial status of the couple was on their minds.

On November 20, all four pleaded not guilty to murdering the Pietrzaks.^[22] District Attorney Rod Pacheco on February 2, 2009, decided to pursue the death penalty against the suspects.^[11][23]

Correspondence and other involvement with White House

On November 11, 2008 (Veteran's Day), Pietrzak's mother, Henryka Pietrzak-Varga, wrote a letter to president-elect Barack Obama about what happened to her son and daughter-in-law, wondering, "If it was a robbery, why didn't they come when nobody was home instead of in the dead of night, armed to the teeth? ... What was it about my son and daughter-in-law that inspired such hatred and loathing?"^[24] Petrzak-Varga has said she believes the crime was racially motivated, as her son was not well-off. Seven months later on, July 27, 2009, the Obama administration responded with generic form letter made for all soldiers killed in combat.^[25]. Once it made it to the news, the Obama administration issued an apology.^[26]. The mothers of Pietrak and Jenkins requested an audience with President Obama. In a letter to the president, the mother of slain Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak said they want to "talk how the sacrifice of Jan Pawel and Quiana could unite us." ^[27] On August 17, 2009, the Commissioner on Civil Rights in Poland wrote to the U.S. Ambassador to Poland supporting this request.^[28][29] The U.S. ambassador responded with a short letter on August 24.^[30]

Criminal trials

On April 3, at a preliminary hearing for the four defendants, prosecutors alleged that the motivation for the crime was financial, not racial. Evidence, however, presented at the hearing detailed that two racist remarks were spray painted in the couple's home. Evidence was also presented showing that Jenkins-Pietrzak was sexually assaulted and that Jan was severely beaten. Riverside County investigator Benjamin Ramirez testified that property belonging to the couple was recovered from Miller's residence on Camp Pendleton, including bank cards, a bracelet with the couple's names written in Polish, and Pietrzak's dress blue uniform. Investigators further testified that footprints left at the crime scene were linked to shoes belonging to the suspects.^[31]

On May 8, 2009, a recording was played in court of Cox's girlfriend, Melissa Buck, stating that after Cox and the other three accused returned home after the alleged murder, they drank beer and that one of them said, "Good job, E. You earned your stripes tonight." Buck stated that the four had carried out other burglaries prior to the killings and that she had gone with them on one occasion.^[32]

In June, Miller acquaintance Justin P. Weissinger testified that several days after the crime Miller had confided in him details of the assault and killing of the Pietrzaks. Weissinger had accompanied Miller and the other suspects on previous burglaries and home invasions.^[11]

On August 12, 2009, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark ordered the four defendants to be tried for the deaths of the Pietrzaks. The re-arraignment was scheduled for August 26.^[33]

The trial of the four was suspended on 1 February 2011 after Kesaun Sykes urinated during a court hearing. The judge ordered a psychological evaluation for Sykes.^[34] Sykes' mental competency trial began on 24 May 2011.^[35] The jury returned a verdict of mentally fit after two hours of deliberations. In response, the judge ordered criminal proceedings to resume against Sykes and his co-defendants.^[36]

References

1. ^ "Defendants in couple's murder may have implicated themselves". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/26/bn26piet195841/?zIndex=73317. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
2. ^ "Hearing Begins For 4 Marines Accused In Robbery-Murder". KGTV San Diego. http://www.10news.com/news/19085432/detail.html. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
3. ^ van der Galien, Michael (November 7, 2008). "4 Marines Suspected of Killing Their Commander". PoliGazette. http://www.poligazette.com/2008/11/07/4-marines-suspected-of-killing-their-commander/. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Rybicki, Paweł (November 13, 2008). "Shocking Murder of Sergeant Jan Pawel Pietrzak and His Wife" (in Polish). Polish News. http://www.polishnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=82:news-from-usa-wiadomosci-z-usa-usa&id=510:wstrzsajce-zabojstwo-sieranta-jana-pawea-pietrzaka-i-jego-ony-dokonane-przez-amerykaskich-marynarzy-&Itemid=199. Retrieved December 9, 2008. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Marines Murdered Their Officer" (in Polish). http://polonia.wp.pl/kat,1010223,wid,10558436,wiad_media.html?ticaid=571ca. 
6. ^ Rogers, Rick (November 21, 2008). "Four Marines Accused of Killing Sergeant, Wife at Home". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20081121-9999-1m21marines.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Marines Accused of Killing Temecula Couple To Be Arraigned Thursday".
8. ^ ^{a b c} Ferran, Lee (November 7, 2008). "Marines Suspected in Sergeant's Slaying". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6204853. 
9. ^ Dillon, Nancy (November 21, 2008). "Marines Deny Guilt in Slays, Rape". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/20/2008-11-20_marines_deny_guilt_in_slays_rape.html. Retrieved December 18, 2008. 
10. ^ Siemaszko, Corky (November 21, 2008). "Mother of Murdered Marine Jan Pawel Pietrzak and Daughter-in-Law Writes Obama for Help". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/11/12/2008-11-12_mother_of_murdered_marine_jan_pawel_piet.html. Retrieved December 18, 2008. "The Pietrzaks were tortured — and Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak was raped — before they were bound, gagged and killed execution style last month in their California home." 
11. ^ ^{a b c} Fuentes, Gidget (June 28, 2009). "Killed in Their Own Home". Military Times.
12. ^ ^{a b} Dillon, Nancy; Corky Siemaszko (November 7, 2008). "Confession in Torture, Slay of Brooklyn-Raised Marine Sergeant and Wife". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/06/2008-11-06_confession_in_torture_slay_of_brooklynra-2.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
13. ^ Perry, Tony (October 18, 2008). "Pair Found Dead in Home are ID'd". Los Angeles Times: p. 4. 
14. ^ ^{a b} "4 Marines Arrested in Killing of Sergeant, Wife". Associated Press. November 3, 2008. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10890656. Retrieved December 17, 2008. ^{[dead link]}
15. ^ Velez-Mitchell, Jane (November 6, 2008). "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell. Couple Slain by Fellow Marines". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0811/06/ijvm.01.html. Retrieved 17 December 2008. 
16. ^ Salazar, Carolyn (November 7, 2008). "A Few 'Bad' Men - Race Eyed in Marine Dual Slay". New York Post: p. 12. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11072008/news/regionalnews/a_few_bad_men_137578.htm. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Dillon, Nancy (November 14, 2008). "Brutal Slay of Marine and His Wife Was Not Racially Motivated, Says Cop". Daily News: p. 13. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/14/2008-11-14_brutal_slay_of_marine_and_his_wife_was_n.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
18. ^ "US Marines Charged with Murdering Colleague and Wife". The Daily Telegraph. November 7, 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3400613/US-Marines-charged-with-murdering-colleague-and-wife.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
19. ^ Dillon, Nancy; Corky Siemaszko (November 10, 2008). "'Nobody Deserves Death Like This,' Says DA in Torture, Slay of Marine, Wife". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/09/2008-11-09_nobody_deserves_death_like_this_says_da_-1.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
20. ^ "A Murder, About Which We Found Out after the Elections" (in Polish). Wiadomości24.pl. November 13, 2008. http://www.wiadomosci24.pl/artykul/morderstwo_o_ktorym_uszlyszelismy_dopiero_po_wyborach_81170.html. 
21. ^ Dillon, Nancy; Corky Siemaszko (April 3, 2009). "Grim Twist in Torture-Slay of Marine Sgt. Jan Pietrzak and Wife: Racial Epithets on Walls of Home". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/03/2009-04-03_grim_twist_in_tortureslay_of_marine_sgt_.html. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
22. ^ "4 Marines Plead Not Guilty to Murder". Associated Press. November 21, 2008. http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1512621. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
23. ^ Rogers, Rick (December 16, 2008). "Four Marines Might Face Death Penalty in Double Slaying". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/16/1m16marines/?zIndex=23025. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
24. ^ "Anguished Marine Mom Turns to "President Obama" for Help". Canada Free Press. November 14, 2008. http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/6283.  - Full text of the letter sent by Henryka Pietrzak-Varga to Barack Obama
25. ^ "7 Months after Letter, Mom of Murdered Marine Sgt. Pietrzak Gets Form Response from Obama Aide".
26. ^ "White House Apologizes to Mom of Brooklyn Marine for Form-Letter Flap".
27. ^ "Mothers of Slain Marine Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak and His Wife Appeal for Meeting with President Obama".
28. ^ Letter from Polish Commissioner on Civil Rights
29. ^ "Polish Official Intercedes on Behalf of Mothers of Slain Brooklyn Marine Sgt. Pietrzak and His Wife.
30. ^ Reply from US Ambassador
31. ^ Rogers, Rick (April 4, 2009). "Slayings Of Marine, Wife Focus Of Hearing". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. B1.
32. ^ Dillon, Nancy; Siemaszko, Corky (May 9, 2009). "Soldiers Toasted Killing Of B’klyn Marine & Wife". Daily News. p. 12.
33. ^ Associated Press, "Charges Stand for 4 Accused of Marine Murder". Military Times. August 13, 2009.
34. ^ Associated Press, "Calif murder defendant urinates in courtroom", San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 February 2011.
35. ^ Burge, Sarah, "Ex-Marine's mental state at issue in French Valley slayings", The Press-Enterprise, 24 May 2011.
36. ^ Burge, Sarah, "Ex-Marine is fit to stand trial in French Valley slayings, jury says", The Press-Enterprise, 24 May 2011.