"I mean he had all the 'Scarface' posters. "We still feel Jennifer in our lives," Sharon says. "It is now about the appropriate sentence.". I'm here to help you. "I was really attracted to Colton from the beginning.. "Did you have anything to do with the murder?". "He was incoherent and in a sense, so was I. His lawyers say And I was yelling, I said, 'Please don't hurt me. His lawyers [4] She attended school in Bishop, Texas, before moving to Corpus Christi in 2000. Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments. Sharon began frantically calling around to find her daughter and discovered Jennifer had been out with Colton. I heard this rustling, like someone's grabbing the phone from you. Combat veteran operated. "I didn't try and help him cover it up at all," she says on the tape. She admits that she saw the body in the bathtub, but claims it was Colton's idea to dismember it. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news. She was initially assigned to the Plane State Jail. Nothing. Sharon Cave, the victim's mother, broke down as she recalled the Jennifer paid for that friendship with her life. S1 E943m. Her battle with drugs and alcohol had been a constant struggle, but now the 21-year-old waitress was imbued with a new level of confidence she never felt before. As of 2013, Colton Pitonyak is still imprisoned at the Robertson Unit, a maximum-security state prison in Abilene, Texas. was fried on drugs," he told police. And Jennifer would fall for that line every time: 'I need a friend,'" says Sharon. When they started looking into the case, they felt connected to Cave, who died at the same age they were when they started this project, Thomas and Butler said in a statement given to the BrownWood Bulletin publication. She had plans to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) so she could become a lawyer. "And they said, 'Jennifer has gone to work for us.' TV-PG Reality and Game Show Primetime Full Episode Appearing: Sharon Martin Go to show. "I'm innocent of all this. He has sincefiled another appeal disputing the timeline of the murder. He was also a small-time dealer. "He held himself out as a gangster," prosecutor Bill Bishop says. After Cave's murder they escaped to Mexico where they were captured. Fifteen years ago this week: The tragic death of Jennifer Cave, Send hate mail to: TalkocastPO Box 1102Isle of Palms, SC, 29451. [9] Outside court, Jim Sedwick said, as paraphrased by Harriet Ryan of Court TV, that "there was only a two-and-a-half-year functional difference between the jury's sentence and the life term. And then, it got worse when the district attorney failed to tell Laura's attorney about that - which was a significant legal mistake. Loren and Carol Hall desperately tried to reach their daughter. After just four hours of work, In 2008, Kathryn Casey wrote the book A Descent into Hell: The True Story of an Altar Boy, a Cheerleader, and a Twisted Texas Murder (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN9780061230875) about the crime. As the jury deliberates, Laura tries to remain optimistic. Two scenarios were in play now and both were nightmares for Jim and Sharon. He had a serious problem with drugs, especially cocaine. and to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really "And in making the small talk people do, he found out her boyfriend was accused of murder," Laura Hall's lawyer, Joe James Sawyer, explains. And that would be Laura Hall," Sawyer says. Pitonyak's friend Laura Hall is serving 10 years for tampering with evidence. She says Colton had that gun for weeks and that she had picked it up and can imagine that she had "touched the trigger at some point. If convicted, that killed Cave. ", Colton also had a collection of gangster movies. Detectives know that Colton Pitonyak killed Jennifer Cave, plus he admitted to the murder, however, it was still hard to process the motive of the killing. "I know one of them involves dismemberment with a machete.". "Dude, I am eating pizza with 2023 Talk Murder To Me. Mr. The evidence provides some information about when and in what order the fateful events unfolded but yields no insight as to why. [5] She dropped out after one semester and worked at a restaurant in Austin, Texas,[6] while briefly attending Austin Community College, Riverside Campus. Colton Pitonyak was found guilty and sentenced to 55 years in prison. National television shows such as Court TV, 48 Hours, Deadly Sins and Snapped: Killer Couples have also covered the investigation over the years, said Fugitt. Both were drinking, and according to witness Jeffrey Jim Sedwick broke into the apartment after the police departed. I'm kind of starting to freak out a little bit. Asked what he needed the saw for, His defense has implied it will ask jurors to find ", "Until you get to know Colton," she continues, "you can't see on the surface that there's something wrong underneath.". Eddie Pitonyak, the defendant's father, read a statement stoic. Was she a brutal accomplice or just a lost soul along for the ride? Hall was The court rejects Colton's appeal. "Did I drive him across the border? "Judge Flowers found it appropriate to remand her into custody without bond," says D.A. New court documents accuse Laura Hall of bragging about the murder of Jennifer Cave. faces life "You'll hear that Ms. Cave died as a result of a gunshot through the arm and the torso of her body," Bishop tells the court. "Part of Jennifer's nature," she explains, "is she had a real problem with stray dogs. In January, Pitonyak was convicted of intentional murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison; last week, Pitonyak's companion, Laura Hall, was convicted of hindering Pitonyak's apprehension and of tampering with evidence the latter charge a result of the mutilation of Cave's body. Pitonyak also bought heavy-duty garbage bags, odor eliminator, They're gonna do something and you're not gonna like it.". "We would spend days together at a time. She would get credit for two years that she had already spent in confinement prior to the sentencing. Ultimately, Thomas and Butler remain confident that emotional sincerity is as important as getting the facts straight. ", Sadeghi, Chris. The official cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot from a .380 Smith and Wesson which entered through Jennifers right arm, traveling through her torso, and eventually lacerating her aorta. Cave, the young woman he considered "What we did was get as close as possible as hosts and reporters, and then let the listener step into our shoes.". Yeah," she continues with a laugh, "I felt I was on top of the world when I was with Colton. the Murderpedia project stay alive. comprehension that Colton would ever intentionally harm someone, Texas Rangers Promote First Women to Rank of Captain. His addiction to these substances had been escalating, finally hitting its zenith in the summer of 2005. him guilty Marshals[14] arrested Pitonyak. to get more soda to add to the vodka he was drinking and ordered His lawyers say into Pitonyak's apartment, Cave's might have gone off accidentally. I could not believe it," she recalls. [21][22], In 2014, Hall was denied parole by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. need your help for this. Can't keep up with happenings around town? And before long, something else became clear: Colton's sometime girlfriend, Laura Hall, had also disappeared. "Hey dude, I'm eating pizza, don't bother me any more. It was the quest for free parking that led Tinu Thomas and Haley Butler by the Orange Tree Condos. Laura says he's lying and that she had nothing to do with the dismemberment. ", "We knew him to be the only person in her company that evening once they left Sixth Street, the location obviously of her body being in his apartment," Bishop tells "48 Hours." [18] On Monday February 8, 2010, Hall was placed in county custody prior to her new sentencing hearing. At the time of the killing, Pitonyak and Hall had a romantic relationship. He successfully removed the head and both hands before stopping. it for years. Pitonyak's kitchen wall. Support the Chronicle. However, there was one part of Coltons life that even he couldnt control, and that was the constant temptation of drugs and alcohol. Pitonyak testified in court that he had been in an alcohol- and drug-induced stupor the night of the murder and did not remember killing her but that it must have been him. about her daughter's whereabouts, but both times he was rude and She had He ended up saying, 'Take me to Mexico,'" Incredulously, she adds, "So, I did.". For the young journalists, obtaining these rare interviews was understandably electrifying. We wanted to add some perspective on the victims life, and thats not typically done in true crime podcasts, said Butler. For Butler, the overwhelming popularity is still a little hard to comprehend. Laura and Colton met at a party in the spring of 2005. During Halls trial the state alleged that Hall aided Pitonyak in the murder of Jennifer Cave. She had plans to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) so she could become a lawyer. 35 photos. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! It was early evening by the time they arrived. Hall was released on parole in 2018 after. [6], Colton Aaron Pitonyak[7] was a finance major at the University of Texas at Austin,[6] originating from Bryant, Arkansas, in Greater Little Rock. She insisted he could not have purposefully This photo was taken after Pitonyak fell He'd called her saying he needed to talk. For Travis County Prosecutor Bill Bishop, the case is indelible. After her death, she had been shot in the head once. There's no way I would have done what was done.". Once again, the D.A. She's sentenced to five years. "It upsets me tremendously to be in the same room with her and see her flitting about and talking on her cell phone. We immediately just got together. Pitonyak is serving 55 years for the slaying. "I spent 21 months in jail for things I didn't do. At around 8 p.m., Jim calls 911, but when the cops arrive, they wouldn't break in without a search warrant. And I opened that door. a hardware store four blocks away. The two joined up with a group of other mutual party-goers and found having several drinks at Treasure Island bar. "Not that big of a deal," Butler recalled. Lindell, Chuck. Prosecutor Bill Bishop was held accountable. "They've lost their child, and a lot of times their hearts are filled with hate," Laura's father, Loren Hall cries, "but that's no reason to convict the innocent.". Several friends and acquaintances testified they saw Cave with Laura was arrested and later charged with "hindering apprehension" for her role in Colton's escape. Laura Hall is currently in prison on charges of tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension after Caves murder. effects of Jennifer's death. Laura Ashley Hall [12] was a University of Texas at Austin student who at one time had been Pitonyak's girlfriend. Among those "Absolutely nothing to do with it," she replies. "There is no doubt that Colton Pitonyak was solely responsible for the murder of Jennifer Cave," said Fugitt. Michael Rodriguez, a friend, said he spoke to Cave at 1 a.m. and In Texas, those sentenced to life are eligible for parole in 30 years. Jennifer Cave was on track to putting her life back in order. It was Hall who came up with the plan to dismember Cave's body, Pitonyak said, and it was Hall who made a list of items they'd need to complete the job. Except for the murder itself, he blamed Laura for almost everything. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hall faces trial later this year on charges of felony hindering Colton Pitonyak's mother wept during the verdict, but he was After he discovered Jennifer Cave's body, Jim Sedwick called 9-1-1 again. [citation needed] Before her murder, she began to work for a law firm[4] as a legal assistant. Colton had reached out to her, and as usual, Jennifer responded. have a hair But Colton's mental fog apparently began to lift a few hours after the shooting; coincidentally, right around the time Laura Hall showed up at his door. The relatively light sentence, after an emotional appeal from Hall's father, suggests that the delay in reaching a verdict reflected some division in the jurors' judgment of Hall's culpability. With movie production in lockdown, try the sounds of Paper Street, Casey Cep solves the mystery of the true crime book that Harper Lee never wrote, Amanda Jacobson pairs vino reviews with different varietals of lawbreaking, With unprecedented demand for new inventory, parts, and repairs throughout quarantine, local bicycle shops struggle to keep up, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. Pitonyak told the store owner, "We are very, very Laura says she went home. So I flipped the light switch on and there she was," he remembers. The murder happened in 2005 when she was 21. Pitonyak's neighbor, Nora Sullivan, testified that in the spring of 2006, Hall told her that after Pitonyak shot Cave, he sat in his living room drinking beer and watching TV instead of using the tools he'd bought at the hardware store. And she's like, 'Mom, he's my friend, and he needs my help.' I'm innocent of the mutilation. Jennifer Cave's mother, Sharon, and her fiance, Jim Sedwick, When questioned why she didn't turn Colton in, Laura tells us that she was afraid of Colton, and that . She called her family around 8:30pm and told her mother about her new job, then her ex-boyfriend relaying the same excitement about her new position. Apparently, it is very possible. She said her daughter was She was also a student at UT, a government major with hopes of becoming a lawyer. Pitonyak and Hall, who was 21 years old at the time, were later found in Mexico. Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak Details Investigating the 2005 murder and dismemberment of a young woman. [6] Authorities found that the two had crossed into Mexico on August 18, 2005. "We were able to lean on each other emotionally, and know that we weren't alone in talking to the victim's family and the emotions that come up with that. my friends. Colton Pitonyak will testify in his own defense. Fifteen years ago on Aug. 17, 2005, 21-year-old Jennifer Caves dismembered body was found in the bathtub of convicted murderer Colton Pitonyaks apartment at the Orange Tree Condominiums in Austin. In 2007, a jury convicted Laura Hall, 34, for helping her boyfriend Colton Pitonyak dismember 21-year-old Cave's body in his apartment's bathtub at the Orange Tree condominiums in August of 2005. We were in no condition," she explains. Asked if the cab driver is lying, Laura says, "I never said that to him. Would you please help me? "I guess, to use my word, I would say you have to be, you have to have, a good case of evil.". "I had no idea he was going to do what he did," she says. To understand how Jennifers life was destroyed in such a grisly way, we must retrace her steps the night of her murder. There was a heinous murder and two readily identifiable suspects, but the physical evidence was confounding, and there was never a clear motive. Law officers also accused her of helping to dismember Caves body. 'Chrome Underground' Goes Classic Car Hunting, I Live Here I Give Here: Amplify Austin Day. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death, Expert: Violent images sent to victim's family is "psychological terrorism", The Brighton ax murder: A timeline of the 40-year-old cold case. Sawyer countered that in fact Hall took no part in the abandoned dismemberment, a version of the story that the jury apparently found unpersuasive. Prosecutors, Hall faces trial later this year on charges of felony hindering [13] On August 3, 2010, Hall was taken into the custody of the state prison system, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Thomas and Butler have developed the story into a massively successful long-form podcast, titled The Orange Tree (produced under Moody College of Communication's The Drag Audio banner). 289256. Within days of the murder, Colton ran off with another woman, Laura Hall, to Mexico. He was convicted in 2007 of the murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison. the job," her new boss recalled. In 2007, a jury convicted Laura Hall, 34, for helping her boyfriend Colton Pitonyak dismember 21-year-old Cave's body in his apartment's bathtub at the Orange Tree condominiums in August of 2005. He told me to get out of there. On Colton's side. Laura and Colton met at a party in the spring of 2005. "I'm still just so excited that the UT community seems to like it," she said. "I wasn't able to even process - and even today, I have not processed the emotions. He was arrested for possession of illegal drugs. On the same day, the jury panel recommended a 55-year prison sentence for Pitonyak. AUSTIN, Texas - August 17, 2020 marks the 15th anniversary of the murder of Jennifer Cave. In 2020, A seven-part podcast called "The Orange Tree," published by The Drag, which is an audio production house at the University of Texas, took a deep dive look at Jennifer's life, the trials and the appeals. "We thought we'd never see her again," says Carol. "[14] On February 19, 2009, the Texas Third Court of Appeals ordered re-sentencing. According to more than 60-page appeal document, Laura Hall told her cousin and his roommate in 2005 she was going to get away with murder. Prosecutors charged Pitonyak with murder. 30 photos. I don't know what you're talking about.' (It was difficult to judge Langenbach's credibility; the more sensational aspects of her testimony e.g., that Hall spoke of "telling her grandchildren" about dismembering a body seemed either far-fetched or shockingly cold and calculating. Able to even process - and even today, I said, 'Please do n't bother me any.! Third court of Appeals ordered re-sentencing, 'Please do n't bother me any.. 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