Posted on Nov 10, 2014
Another death penalty in newlywed Marine couple murders
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From: Marine Corps Times
A man who joined three accomplices in tormenting and killing a Marine sergeant and his wife during a home invasion robbery near Murrieta, California, was sentenced Friday to death.
Kesaun Kedron Sykes, 27, was convicted in August of the 2008 slayings of 26-year-olde Quiana Faye Jenkins-Pietrzak and her husband, 24-year-old Janek Pietrzak.
The six-man, six-woman jury that found Sykes guilty recommended the death penalty, and Riverside County Superior Court Judge Christian Thierbach followed that recommendation.
The defendant is the last of four former Marines to be sentenced for the Oct. 15, 2008, killings.
Last year, three members of Janek Pietrzak's helicopter maintenance squadron at Camp Pendleton — Kevin Darnell Cox and Tyrone Lloyd Miller, both 27, along with 25-year-old Emrys Justin John —were convicted.
Cox and Miller were sentenced to death, while John received two consecutive life prison terms.
"Mr. Sykes and the other defendants crossed every line of human decency when they committed these murders," said Deputy District Attorney Dan DeLimon. "We're talking about a pack of predators who actually took pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering. They're more monster than human."
Sykes, Miller, Cox and John forced their way into the Pietrzaks' French Valley home at 3139 Bermuda Ave. after Cox knocked on the door around 1 a.m. asking if he could speak to the sergeant.
After tying up and gagging the victims, the defendants ransacked the home for 90 minutes.
Quiana Pietrzak was separated from her husband and placed on a table by Sykes, who stripped her and joined Miller and Cox in sexually violating her with a vibrator. According to the defendants' own testimony, they mocked the blindfolded woman, making lewd gestures and suggesting that her cooperation might save her life.
The foursome had carried out a similar home-invasion in Oceanside less than a month earlier, though no one was killed. They confessed that they were mainly interested in the "stuff" they might be able steal from the Pietrzaks, who had received numerous gifts at their Aug. 8 wedding.
John shot the couple with a 9mm handgun.
The defendants painted racial epithets on the home's interior walls — and on the victims' bodies — to make it appear as though a hate-crime had occurred. Pietrzak was of Polish descent; Quiana was black.
Sykes' attorney, Doug Myers, argued that his client suffered from an under-developed brain.
Pietrzak's mother, Henryka Varga, and Quiana's mother, Glenda Faye Jenkins, waged a campaign in 2009 seeking legislation to require the Marine Corps to raise its recruiting standards and strengthen vetting procedures to prevent men such as the defendants from joining. The effort did not bear fruit.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/crime/2014/11/10/murder-death-penalty/18790785/
A man who joined three accomplices in tormenting and killing a Marine sergeant and his wife during a home invasion robbery near Murrieta, California, was sentenced Friday to death.
Kesaun Kedron Sykes, 27, was convicted in August of the 2008 slayings of 26-year-olde Quiana Faye Jenkins-Pietrzak and her husband, 24-year-old Janek Pietrzak.
The six-man, six-woman jury that found Sykes guilty recommended the death penalty, and Riverside County Superior Court Judge Christian Thierbach followed that recommendation.
The defendant is the last of four former Marines to be sentenced for the Oct. 15, 2008, killings.
Last year, three members of Janek Pietrzak's helicopter maintenance squadron at Camp Pendleton — Kevin Darnell Cox and Tyrone Lloyd Miller, both 27, along with 25-year-old Emrys Justin John —were convicted.
Cox and Miller were sentenced to death, while John received two consecutive life prison terms.
"Mr. Sykes and the other defendants crossed every line of human decency when they committed these murders," said Deputy District Attorney Dan DeLimon. "We're talking about a pack of predators who actually took pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering. They're more monster than human."
Sykes, Miller, Cox and John forced their way into the Pietrzaks' French Valley home at 3139 Bermuda Ave. after Cox knocked on the door around 1 a.m. asking if he could speak to the sergeant.
After tying up and gagging the victims, the defendants ransacked the home for 90 minutes.
Quiana Pietrzak was separated from her husband and placed on a table by Sykes, who stripped her and joined Miller and Cox in sexually violating her with a vibrator. According to the defendants' own testimony, they mocked the blindfolded woman, making lewd gestures and suggesting that her cooperation might save her life.
The foursome had carried out a similar home-invasion in Oceanside less than a month earlier, though no one was killed. They confessed that they were mainly interested in the "stuff" they might be able steal from the Pietrzaks, who had received numerous gifts at their Aug. 8 wedding.
John shot the couple with a 9mm handgun.
The defendants painted racial epithets on the home's interior walls — and on the victims' bodies — to make it appear as though a hate-crime had occurred. Pietrzak was of Polish descent; Quiana was black.
Sykes' attorney, Doug Myers, argued that his client suffered from an under-developed brain.
Pietrzak's mother, Henryka Varga, and Quiana's mother, Glenda Faye Jenkins, waged a campaign in 2009 seeking legislation to require the Marine Corps to raise its recruiting standards and strengthen vetting procedures to prevent men such as the defendants from joining. The effort did not bear fruit.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/crime/2014/11/10/murder-death-penalty/18790785/
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Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 56
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There is no question of the illegal and inhumane actions and conduct of the perpetrators against the victims of this horrific crime.
Here it is extremely difficult to be a reasonable and rational thinking person in the face of such horrific crimes. However, that is what is incumbent upon us as a civilized society.
I vehemently disagree with any “State” (meaning a form of government) killing its own citizens. (**)
Here from an 1895 U.S. Supreme Court case which stated, “it is better that 10 guilty persons go free than that 1 innocent person be convicted.” U.S. Supreme Court: COFFIN v. U.S., 156 U.S. 432 (1895) COFFIN et al. v. UNITED STATES. No. 741.
Provides an interesting note of conflict. On average in the USA death row wait times are over a decade and quite costly - more than the average prisoner.
If an innocent were put to death then later found to be not guilty – how would you provide restitution and provide exoneration by releasing them to return to the rest of their life from the grave?
However, I do agree with a sentence of Life at hard labor without parole.
Some might agree with a sentence of Life in continuous and constant Solitary confinement without parole however, that is also as inhumane as is the death penalty.
http://solitarywatch.com/facts/faq/
(**)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 – In 2006, I was taught in an International Humans Rights Law course - the USA never signed that agreement!
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
http://www.humanrights.com/#/home
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I hope that I have provided enough for comment and argument both pro and con from the above short statements and the limited information presented.
That was my intent!
Here it is extremely difficult to be a reasonable and rational thinking person in the face of such horrific crimes. However, that is what is incumbent upon us as a civilized society.
I vehemently disagree with any “State” (meaning a form of government) killing its own citizens. (**)
Here from an 1895 U.S. Supreme Court case which stated, “it is better that 10 guilty persons go free than that 1 innocent person be convicted.” U.S. Supreme Court: COFFIN v. U.S., 156 U.S. 432 (1895) COFFIN et al. v. UNITED STATES. No. 741.
Provides an interesting note of conflict. On average in the USA death row wait times are over a decade and quite costly - more than the average prisoner.
If an innocent were put to death then later found to be not guilty – how would you provide restitution and provide exoneration by releasing them to return to the rest of their life from the grave?
However, I do agree with a sentence of Life at hard labor without parole.
Some might agree with a sentence of Life in continuous and constant Solitary confinement without parole however, that is also as inhumane as is the death penalty.
http://solitarywatch.com/facts/faq/
(**)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 – In 2006, I was taught in an International Humans Rights Law course - the USA never signed that agreement!
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
http://www.humanrights.com/#/home
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope that I have provided enough for comment and argument both pro and con from the above short statements and the limited information presented.
That was my intent!
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This is absolutely sickening. Sociopaths are drawn to our Corps but it's our job as recruiters to screen these applicants in order to prevent these horrors from ever coming to fruition. Is there a better way to weed out those with sociopathic tendencies or are we doomed to see headlines like this all the time?
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I know very little about this case, but I think the outcome was right. Here is a thought that I have, pertains to many many many cases.... I think about what MY parents, family, and friends would think of me if I had been busted for this (or any other crime). I think of the shame they would hold because of my actions... Sad really.... I guess I was raised right and respect others.
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There is an old science fiction story in which the killer ended up not getting convicted - but the Judge ruled that the killer was a "varmint". Look up the definition. I think that there is something to be said for that type of a verdict.
Also, John W. Campbell used to argue that the legal definition of "insane" had become so complex as to be utterly meaningless and advocated the substitution of "nuts" for "insane". [The reason is that almost anyone can tell that someone is "nuts" but it takes a team of highly trained, well educated, generously paid, professionals to be able to say that someone may - or may not - be "insane".]
As a general rule, I'm opposed to the death penalty (the way it is awarded) BUT I have no difficulty in executing people like the four who killed this promising young couple when there is NO POSSIBILITY that they did not do the deed.
As for those who escape criminal responsibility due to mental illness, is there any reason why society should not be protected from them for the same length of time as it would be if they weren't mentally ill? Off to "The Home" for as long as they would be sent to jail and when they have been cured AND the time has elapsed then they can come out WITHOUT a criminal record.
I'd also like to make both parole boards and others involved in releasing potentially dangerous prisoners responsible for the actions of those that they release. At least that way the people who decide that some serial criminal who has been in a state institution long enough to convince the releasing authorities that they are now a reformed character will have some skin in the game. [How that would work, I have no idea. BUT I'd like to see it tried because you can be damned sure that the people making the release decisions are going to be just a bit more cautious when making them.]
Also, John W. Campbell used to argue that the legal definition of "insane" had become so complex as to be utterly meaningless and advocated the substitution of "nuts" for "insane". [The reason is that almost anyone can tell that someone is "nuts" but it takes a team of highly trained, well educated, generously paid, professionals to be able to say that someone may - or may not - be "insane".]
As a general rule, I'm opposed to the death penalty (the way it is awarded) BUT I have no difficulty in executing people like the four who killed this promising young couple when there is NO POSSIBILITY that they did not do the deed.
As for those who escape criminal responsibility due to mental illness, is there any reason why society should not be protected from them for the same length of time as it would be if they weren't mentally ill? Off to "The Home" for as long as they would be sent to jail and when they have been cured AND the time has elapsed then they can come out WITHOUT a criminal record.
I'd also like to make both parole boards and others involved in releasing potentially dangerous prisoners responsible for the actions of those that they release. At least that way the people who decide that some serial criminal who has been in a state institution long enough to convince the releasing authorities that they are now a reformed character will have some skin in the game. [How that would work, I have no idea. BUT I'd like to see it tried because you can be damned sure that the people making the release decisions are going to be just a bit more cautious when making them.]
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This is horrible...and they definitely deserve what they got...wish they could be revived so they could get the death penalty a few times...bring the chair back...make them suffer like they made their victims suffer...they're monsters...monsters have no place here.
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SSG Tim Everett
Actually I'm a really old-school D&D player (late 80s). Good guess though! I do play Elder Scrolls.
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LCpl Devin Hall
I love D&D man haha...that's awesome...haven't played it in a while though...not since high school
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SSG Tim Everett
I haven't played in ages, either. I can't find a group that doesn't suck, and I can't find a group that plays a version of D&D that I like. They make websites for people like us, but I'm too lazy to get off my erse and use one.
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LCpl Devin Hall
Yeah and Elder Scrolls doesn't do a bad job of making a D&D type world come to 3D on screen either though lol
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