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 >1 y ago
Responses: 57
The following quotes in this piece are particularly telling in my eyes --
(1) "...stripped her and joined Miller and Cox in sexually violating her..."
(2) "The defendants painted racial epithets on the home's interior walls — and on the victims' bodies..."
(3) "Mr. Sykes and the other defendants crossed every line of human decency when they committed these murders..."
I don't find comfort in wishing death upon anyone else -- and I often try to think of ways to avoid the death penalty -- but here it just seems like the most reasonable punishment is the death penalty. I find myself wanting these people to suffer as well, just as they made others suffer, though I know it's not necessarily healthy to have those feelings. The people who did this are lower than animals, lower than scum! My heart goes out to the families of the deceased, and may everyone affected find peace. This whole situation just bothers me to my core.
Overall, I also want to note that I found the article itself well-written and professionally communicated, in light of the sensitivity of the content. So, thanks to Marine Corps Times writers for that.
(1) "...stripped her and joined Miller and Cox in sexually violating her..."
(2) "The defendants painted racial epithets on the home's interior walls — and on the victims' bodies..."
(3) "Mr. Sykes and the other defendants crossed every line of human decency when they committed these murders..."
I don't find comfort in wishing death upon anyone else -- and I often try to think of ways to avoid the death penalty -- but here it just seems like the most reasonable punishment is the death penalty. I find myself wanting these people to suffer as well, just as they made others suffer, though I know it's not necessarily healthy to have those feelings. The people who did this are lower than animals, lower than scum! My heart goes out to the families of the deceased, and may everyone affected find peace. This whole situation just bothers me to my core.
Overall, I also want to note that I found the article itself well-written and professionally communicated, in light of the sensitivity of the content. So, thanks to Marine Corps Times writers for that.
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CMSgt James Nolan
CPT Aaron Kletzing completely agree with the "well written article" statement.
I personally think that once convicted, and following a "reasonable" appeals process, that is it. Thanks for coming, there is no possible rehabilitation, and there is no possible redeeming value they can provide to society. Save the tax payers the funding of incarceration. Just saying...
I personally think that once convicted, and following a "reasonable" appeals process, that is it. Thanks for coming, there is no possible rehabilitation, and there is no possible redeeming value they can provide to society. Save the tax payers the funding of incarceration. Just saying...
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MSgt (Join to see)
Have to agree very well written. But I have to wonder why the shooter was the only one not sentenced to death and received two life terms. It is really hard for a mind to comprehend why people commit such atrocities. And I'm not sure changing recruiting practices would prevent such actions. It is sad but there will always be those that wish to do evil. I hope and wish the best for the the families. Hopefully in time they will find pease and the lord will bless them.
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SGT Bryon Sergent
In my opinion there is to much appealing in this country. Their should be a limit on how many appeals and what you can appeal. I mean they where convicted, without the shadow of doubt, conclusive evidence of a racially motivated, aggravated sexual assault, murder of a Marines wife while they made him WATCH! I think they should have been put to death in the most painfullest slowest
sickest manner at all possible. F making it quick and painless. Make it long and drawn out.
sickest manner at all possible. F making it quick and painless. Make it long and drawn out.
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There is pure evil in this world. No matter how much we try to see the good in people, and be naive to the duality of man, we must always remain alert. Some people have no right to be deserving of the term "human." My heart aches.
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The four who committed the murders were part of his own unit? That makes me want to puke. While I can understand the sentiment of some of the commenters who want these four to be executed swiftly, I respectfully disagree. That's too good for them. I prefer how Vigo was executed in Ghostbusters 2. He was poisoned, shot, stabbed, hung, stretched, disemboweled, drawn and quartered. After all of that, then they can die.
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