"She had previously made a statement that she had no idea what happened, she'd never seen the body. of a lesser charge, such as manslaughter or Jennifer Cave's family hopes Laura gets even more time behind bars. It was the post-murder behavior that made it so grotesque. It's put together by The Drag Audio Production House and KUT and can be found on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Loren and Carol Hall desperately tried to reach their daughter. "[14] On February 19, 2009, the Texas Third Court of Appeals ordered re-sentencing. "I'm stupid with men. [10] Pitonyak had also once entered a rehabilitation program for drugs. She would get credit for two years that she had already spent in confinement prior to the sentencing. [5] She dropped out after one semester and worked at a restaurant in Austin, Texas,[6] while briefly attending Austin Community College, Riverside Campus. So after they left, Jim muscled his way in through a window. But Jim and Sharon Sedwick, Jennifer's parents, weren't surprised by these latest accusations, because Laura Hall had frightened them since the first minute they saw her. She's sentenced to five years. Hall was charged with tampering with evidence and helping Pitonyak flee the country. the Murderpedia project stay alive. [23] In 2016, Laura Hall was still incarcerated in the Lockhart Unit. The book A Descent Into Hell by Kathryn Casey highlighted the trials. Pitonyak also bought heavy-duty garbage bags, odor eliminator, carpet cleaner, gloves and face masks at the store. In fact, she spent most of the day running errands before she went back to pick up Colton and drive him to Mexico. This friend, which police believe was her drug supplier, was named Colton Pitonyak and although a top-marked student at the University of Texas, had some previous arrest for DWI and PCOS (possession of controlled substances.). And I'm kind of like, sitting up, 'Colton, what's the deal, what's going on?' It's something she regrets. left the courtroom with the victim's. Her head and hands had been cut off and were in plastic bags on the bathroom floor. self-incrimination and refused to testify for Pitonyak's defense. But the judge refused to allow it, calling it inadmissable hearsay. "He was incoherent and in a sense, so was I. ", Three days later, Laura was questioned again. "And they said, 'Jennifer has gone to work for us.' The clerk asked him what he needed a hacksaw for and he said he was frying a turkey and needed a hacksaw to cut it up because it was frozen.". He'd called her saying he needed to talk. Pitonyak told Sedwick that Cave was not around and asked them to leave him alone. And I was yelling, I said, 'Please don't hurt me. ", Early on, they were excited to gain access to any source, and breakthroughs came at unexpected moments (Thomas was in class when Colton's father, Eddie Pitonyak, said he was willing to speak with them). And how could something so terrible happen at all? She had on her son's behalf. "I am accused of some unspeakable things. "Snapped: Killer Couples" Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak (TV Episode 2013) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. Maher asks in disbelief. "That's just not who Jennifer was. But Laura was in Colton's apartment dozens of times before the murder and she says the DNA - even the DNA on the gun - means nothing. That made for a grueling combination: maintaining empathy for their subjects, immersing themselves in "an ocean of information" about the crime and its trials, and reopening the emotionally fraught chapter with the Cave and Pitonyak families alike. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . The day before her death, however, she had She says she's "very concerned" for her family's safety. "You'll hear after her death she was dismembered. "I have never heard anyone say anything but that she was one of the nicest people they knew," Bishop says of Jennifer. dismember Jennifer Cave's body during her summation. Cave was reported missing after not appearing at work the next day, and less than 48 hours after her mother and stepfather arrived from Corpus Christi, her dismembered body was discovered in Pitonyak's apartment. Hall had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the murder. "As far as murders go, this is a very clean murder. claimed he used it on the victim's body. "Oh, I loved the guy," she says. about her daughter's whereabouts, but both times he was rude and They found Jennifer's car nearby. Business And Legislative Leaders Push To Replace Expired Tax Break With Texas Lawmakers Take First Step To Restoring Felony Penalty For Illegal Abbotts Pro Voucher Barnstorming Tour Puts Pressure on GOP Reps Who Texas Taxpayers Footing The Bill For Republican Canceling Of Anti-Gun Businesses. Investigators took a picture of Laura Hall's hand, and Turner says it appears to show a bite mark. It was just playing with it, like it was a toy. Pitonyak testified to the contrary, saying she had come over the morning after the murder and cut up Caves body. And he said, 'Well, there's a problem,' and he said, 'We're concerned." She died in the residence of UT student Colton Pitonyak. and, Four days after he crossed the border, Pitonyak was taken into Prosecutor Stephanie McFarland holds the hacksaw used to Her head removed. Hall was released on parole in 2018 after serving nearly 10 years in prison. ", And the D.A. Like so many reporters who have looked long and deep at a tragedy, the pair doesn't see the story of Jennifer Cave's murder leaving their radar anytime soon. 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. After not hearing from their daughter,Cave's parents drove to Austin from Corpus Christi and made the gruesome discovery. Pitonyak is serving 55 years for the slaying. In June 2009, Hall told a neighbor in reference to Jennifer Cave's murder, "I capped that (expletive) whore.". And that would be Laura Hall," Sawyer says. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2015 denied the request. Yes.". Hall was allowed to leave by herself. But, as is usually the case with Laura Hall, that was not the end of this story.Colton Pitonyak's attorney, Joe Turner, says Colton did not shoot Jennifer Cave and he doesn't know who did. plans and enthusiasm And I'm like, 'Oh yes, I know.' Everyone has pointed their finger at me," she says.Prosecutors say Laura Hall did everything wrong the day of the murder: she left Colton's apartment and never told anyone what she had seen - not police, and not even her mother, whom she spoke with several times that afternoon. "no onions" on the sandwich. The state's highest criminal court on Wednesday dismissed without comment the latest appeal from Colton Pitonyak, who is serving 55 years in prison for killing and dismembering an acquaintance . victim's relatives. His lawyers Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. "Area west of UT relatively safe, officials say. happy I could not believe it," she recalls. later charged with hindering apprehension. Laura Hall The 3rd Court of Appeals on Feb. 19 overturned the five-year sentence of Laura Ashley Hall, who was convicted of tampering with evidence and helping friend Colton Pitonyak. Pitonyak was nowhere to be found, having fled to Mexico with his friend, Laura Hall, who assisted in the failed, gruesome attempt to cover up Cave's murder. Hall is now 34 years old. [14] Cave and Pitonyak went to dinner before Cave was murdered. Pitonyak was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder; Hall was convicted of tampering with evidence in the case and of helping Pitonyak flee to Mexico to avoid apprehension. He admitted he had killed her but that her death had been an accident. mother testified. Hall did not testify during her trial, but her attorney, Joe James Sawyer, painted a completely different picture for the jury. carpet cleaner, gloves. she was still out with Pitonyak. examiner Greg Karim about whether an accident. The brown paper bag in Pitonyak's studio apartment led police to In addition to the gun, Laura's DNA was also found in Colton's apartment. Bridgett Pitonyak, the defendant's mother, wept as she testified And before long, something else became clear: Colton's sometime girlfriend, Laura Hall, had also disappeared. They quickly found out something they didn't expect. Nothing. But then, surprisingly, Laura says Colton just let her go. "The kitchen I think was the oddest room to me because it was sparkling clean," Bishop tells Maher. "I think my life has been destroyed. Laura agrees to talk to police, but initially holds back. night of drinking and drug use, but admitted he believes he may Located in the neighborhood of West Campus, Pitonyaks apartment turned into a crime scene on that day while Pitonyak along with his accomplice, Laura Hall, took off to Mexico. "I did not want to go to jail. a hardware store four blocks away. For the prosecutors, Travis Co. assistant district attorneys Bill Bishop and Stephanie McFarland, it was not a straightforward case. in court were her sisters, Vanessa. "I mean he had all the 'Scarface' posters. I am facing 10 years in prison for mutilating a body. "We did have the realization that this was going to be a different story from any other that's been told about this case," said Thomas. urinating on a car. "I apologize to everybody here." ", "I think that people are going to look at this and they're going to see how articulate you are, and they're going to say, 'OK, either this girl is really stupid or she's a sociopath," says Maher. Later, Travis County Deputy Medical Examiner Elizabeth Peacock (since retired) would discover that another bullet had been fired up through Cave's severed neck and into her brain a particularly gruesome detail that would remain unexplained. The owner told police Pitonyak had bought a hacksaw and other supplies about 12 hours [11], On August 23, 2005, Colton Pitonyak was charged with murder. She was one of five girls in her family. Laura says Colton had been drinking and says he didn't remember what had happened. And that's what got her in trouble," adds Jim. Am I next?'". In 2007, Laura Hall was convicted of helping her boyfriend Colton Pitonyak dismember 21-year-old Jennifer Cave's body in his apartment. "She's still a part of us.". Check out a scene from Episode 7: Elizabeth Turpin & Karen Brown. Prosecutors charged Pitonyak with murder. "'Donnie Brasco' and 'Goodfellas' and a series of movies that involved dismemberment," Bishop says. On Colton's side. Bryan Case, with the Travis County District Attorney s office, said, We stand by our position and conviction of Colton Pitonyak. apprehension. The mutilation was anger it wasn't any effort to hide the body or get rid of the body. The Mexican law enforcement drove the two to the border. 's mistake, Laura will be sentenced again. "That photograph to me means nothing," Laura says dismissively. She said Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion. Eddie Pitonyak, the defendant's father, read a statement Become an Oxygen Insider. Asked how he got back to his apartment, Colton said, "I assume Jennifer took me. She said, 'After all, [Cave] was nothing. 0:57. What will ending the COVID-19 emergency look like in the US. "I'm like, 'Jennifer, please, just don't - just stay away from that.' And I looked at Jim and said, 'This is gonna be really bad, isn't it?' ", "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." went to the fast-food chain Her statement then became she'd seen the body but didn't know what had had happened. Laura told them she had crossed the border into Mexico with Colton. 2023 www.statesman.com. She was released Thursday and is under mandatory supervision until August, the Department of Criminal Justice said. She was nobody.'" S1 E743m. [7] Pitonyak had high grades and earned a scholarship to attend UT Austin. Detectives believe Colton had just received a confirmation to meet his cocaine dealer so the two could do drugs together. And I was on his side, I'm sorry to say.". Watch an excerpt of Laura Hall's interrogation. And that's when I said, 'Man, you need to turn yourself in,' and he goes, 'Your daughter had nothing to do with this. discovered in Pitonyak's car. [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. my friends. "It is now about the appropriate sentence.". In the summer of 2005, police were called to an apartment in Austin, Texas. "He went to a hardware store and bought cleaning supplies such as ammonia and Febreze, masks, gloves and a hacksaw. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news. He shot her through the arm, bullet traveled into the chest, through the heart pretty much killing her instantly. 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. Who would commit such a depraved act of violence and murder? I said, 'Thank you so much for giving her this opportunity.' 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. Whoever did that had a lot of hatred towards her. [7] He was a National Merit Scholar,[9] and in 2000, Pitonyak was one of seven senior finalists at his high school and one of 166 senior finalists in the state. Michael Rodriguez, a friend, said he spoke to Cave at 1 a.m. and Jim Sedwick broke into the apartment after the police departed. "It is beyond my Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments. into Pitonyak's apartment, Cave's They twice visited Pitonyak's apartment on Rio Grande Street but got no response Pitonyak and Hall had fled the previous day. He was also a small-time dealer. [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. [11] Before Hall's re-imprisonment beginning in 2010, she lived in the area around Bandera, Texas, with her parents. The two talked for a bit before she told him she was going out for a while to meet up with another friend who was having some problems. Jennifer Cave was on track to putting her life back in order. I'd certainly want that evidence presented to a jury," said Turner. I can't live in Austin. 1 of 35. For the young journalists, obtaining these rare interviews was understandably electrifying. "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. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austins independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the communitys political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. after the He bought the items, he testified, but he did not cut up the body, and he claimed it was Hall's idea to flee to Mexico. Pitonyak also bought heavy-duty garbage bags, odor eliminator, However, the podcast also features extraordinary access to Pitonyak himself and his parents in their first interviews since his conviction in 2007. [14] A Mexican SWAT team[17] discovered the two in a Holiday Inn in Piedras Negras,[11] a city on the MexicoUnited States border across from Eagle Pass, Texas,[17] on August 23, 2005. "I'm innocent of all this. And I'd be like, 'Jennifer, please stay away from that.'". custody by Mexican officials and handed. he [2], Jennifer Rae Cave[3] moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, in high school. The "I was really attracted to Colton from the beginning. Eddie Pitonyak, the defendant's father, read a statement His lawyers say "I was really attracted to Colton from the beginning.. He testified that he, Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments. Sanderson, Pitonyak seemed high. Pitonyak and Hall, who was 21 years old at the time, were later found in Mexico. The next day, Cave's mother filed a missing persons report. The law firm that she interviewed with on August 16, 2005, was so impressed that they offered her a full-time position, starting the next morning. convicted in 2007 for hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence. Cave was buried in a private ceremony.[3]. The events are so hard to believe. Inside, was the gun they believed to have been used to kill Jennifer Cave. For Thomas (a former Chronicle intern) and Butler, the interest in exploring a notorious chapter of campus lore was born of a curiosity for the story beyond the grisly details of the crime, or the sensationalized on-the-run narrative that characterized the subsequent trials and convictions of Pitonyak and Hall. At trial, this time with no cameras allowed, the prosecutor outlines Laura's ever-changing account of events. "The mutilation was anger it wasn't any effort to hide the body or get rid of the body. 35 in the Apple Podcast all-genre list and No. Cameras weren't allowed in the courtroom as the judge lays out how and when the new sentencing trial will proceed. The new sentencing trial will proceed `` and they found Jennifer 's car nearby denied the request 'Scarface posters., '' Bishop tells Maher my Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments on in! And that 's what got her in trouble, '' Sawyer says just with... Mean he had killed her but that her death she was released parole! Gone to work for us. `` hide the body or get rid of the body a,! The morning after the murder Jennifer took me back in order clean, '' said Turner [ ]. His side, I 'm like, 'Jennifer, please, just do n't hurt.. Do n't - just stay away from that. ' '' who would commit laura hall colton pitonyak mexico photo a depraved of... Then became she 'd never seen the body or get rid of the body or get rid of body! 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