"He was incoherent and in a sense, so was I. "I felt he was innocent. round from Colton Pitonyak was found guilty and sentenced to 55 years in prison. But then, surprisingly, Laura says Colton just let her go. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments. Still, last week's verdict left open the most crucial questions: What exactly happened to Cave in the wee hours of Aug. 17, 2005? The police said they could not search the apartment without a warrant. She was sentenced to ten years in prison. "48 Hours" has been following Laura Hall's case since 2005, and yet it is still difficult to know just exactly who Laura is or what role she played that awful August night in Austin. As it turns out, the cab driver failed to identify Laura when investigators showed him a photo lineup. And I'd be like, 'Jennifer, please stay away from that.'". Motoreum's Yusuf & Antonio talk about the biz and their reality TV debut, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. Sullivan said Hall seemed frustrated by Pitonyak's inanition, saying she had been trying to "motivate" Pitonyak to finish the job. The victim's relatives embraced after the verdict. And then, it got worse when the district attorney failed to tell Laura's attorney about that - which was a significant legal mistake. And I'm not talking the four-legged kind.". Sharon and Jim decided to head to Austin hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. Hall's crime, Sawyer argued, was loving Pitonyak "too much" irrationally and blindly, committing herself to protecting him from harm. Whoever did that had a lot of hatred towards her. All rights reserved. Jennifer asked her roommate to make sure she was up by 9:30am, just in case she overslept for her first day. she was still out with Pitonyak. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. "Really? I watched my jury and I saw women and men flinch at that answer.". Asked what she told police, Laura says, "Just that I thought we were on vacation, I don't know anything about it, Colton's a great guy and he didn't do it. In Hall's trial, prosecutors were left to develop a portrait of intent mainly through conversations the 24-year-old Hall allegedly had with others in the months following the murder. Her hands removed. 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"48 Hours Mystery: In Too Deep. "The great challenge is to say to them, 'Feel any way you want. "The kitchen I think was the oddest room to me because it was sparkling clean," Bishop tells Maher. She became eligible again in November 2012. "everyone's favorite" and bonded the family together. After police said they did not have the legal grounds to break Laura Ashley Hall [12] was a University of Texas at Austin student who at one time had been Pitonyak's girlfriend. detailing his son's childhood and academic "It is now about the appropriate sentence.". The next day, Cave's mother filed a missing persons report. police found Cave's Saturn sedan parked on a street near the Among those He said Ascension Seton breaks ground on new womens health tower in Austin, Cowboy Breakfast, BBQ Austin scheduled ahead of official start of Rodeo Austin, Timeline: Severe storms possible on Thursday, Forecast: Severe storms possible Thursday, 'The Orange Tree' | 2005 murder of Jennifer Cave the topic of successful UT podcast, Person involved in 2005 murder of Jennifer Cave released on parole. [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. 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. "We just wanted to expand on that," Butler explained. Colton Pitonyak and his new accomplice, Laura Hall, were quickly arrested by Mexican police officers and extradited back to face his crimes. For Travis County Prosecutor Bill Bishop, the case is indelible. detailing his son's childhood and academic, After a jury sentenced him to 55 years in prison, Pitonyak said, She faces up to 10 years in prison. "The thing that I am most fearful about is that she will choose my family to yet again hurt," Sharon tells Maher. "[14] On February 19, 2009, the Texas Third Court of Appeals ordered re-sentencing. and, Four days after he crossed the border, Pitonyak was taken into "Hey dude, I'm eating pizza, don't bother me any more. "He thought Asked who's the other possible suspect, he replies, "Well, there's other suspects and Laura Hall is as good as any. 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. the Murderpedia project stay alive. In June 2009, Hall told a neighbor in reference to Jennifer Cave's murder, "I capped that (expletive) whore.". Although Michael didnt hear any distress in his friends voice, he could hear her say, What are you doing? Ascension Seton breaks ground on new womens health tower in Austin, Cowboy Breakfast, BBQ Austin scheduled ahead of official start of Rodeo Austin, Timeline: Severe storms possible on Thursday, Forecast: Severe storms possible Thursday. Pitonyak's cell. He ended up saying, 'Take me to Mexico,'" Incredulously, she adds, "So, I did.". The dismembered body of a young woman exposes the dark side of two former honor students. I felt that he didn't really do this. ", And he couldn't he explain the shooting. cellphone after he night of drinking and drug use, but admitted he believes he may 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. 'Why yes,' he said, 'She's sitting right over there by Mr. Sanderson, Pitonyak seemed high. I thought he was a very sexy guy. plans and enthusiasm New court documents accuse Laura Hall of bragging about the murder of Jennifer Cave. Now an Austin podcaster is telling the personal stories behind that severing. In August 2005, 21-year-old Cave was last seen with her close friend, UT finance major Colton Pitonyak, in Downtown Austin, on the eve of starting a new job at a local law firm. my friends. As the jury deliberates, Laura tries to remain optimistic. 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 . Colton quickly realized that he couldnt dispose of the body by himself and called over a friend, Laura Hall, to help him cut up the body. [21][22], In 2014, Hall was denied parole by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. him guilty I'm absolutely stupid with them," she says. shot her accidentally. The podcast highlights Halls possibility of being the true murderer of Cave and according to a KXAN report, Pitonyaks lawyers tried to convince a jury that she was the real murderer. The jury finds Laura guilty of tampering with evidence, for cutting up Jennifer Cave's body and helping Colton to escape to Mexico. Laura and Colton met at a party in the spring of 2005. On Colton's side. Authorities said that Cave and Pitonyak had no previous discord before the murder. Pitonyak (pictured) twice by phone trying to get information What will ending the COVID-19 emergency look like in the US. I am facing 10 years in prison for mutilating a body. He has sincefiled another appeal disputing the timeline of the murder. Laura remarks. "That's just not who Jennifer was. Police didn't believe Laura's story that Colton had forced her to drive him to Mexico. Case says he could not comment on Hall's upcoming sentencing hearing. The book A Descent Into Hell by Kathryn Casey highlighted the trials. 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. Jennifer Cave's family hopes Laura gets even more time behind bars. suffered a number of bizarre wounds after death, including a the chamber. dishwasher. for his parents' well-being. And for the first time, Colton started shifting the blame. She's out on bond while prosecutors fight to put her back behind bars. 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. apprehension. She was released in 2018 after serving time. His lawyers "He answered the door really kind of paranoid and fearful. ", Three days later, Laura was questioned again. "I know what's coming," she tells Maher. custody by Mexican officials and handed University of Texas student Colton Pitonyak, a one-time National She's sentenced to five years. [11] Pitonyak had no previous record of violent crime. "Laura Hall says she didn't have a plan on what to do next after getting to Mexico, and that she didn't know what Colton Pitonyak was planning. "There was a dead woman curled up in his bathtub. Laura's attorney says the witness is not credible. The mutilation was anger it wasn't any effort to hide the body or get rid of the body. Ultimately, Thomas and Butler remain confident that emotional sincerity is as important as getting the facts straight. The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. S1 E843m. Maher asks. We stood right here in [the] hallway. It was the quest for free parking that led Tinu Thomas and Haley Butler by the Orange Tree Condos. "I had no idea he was going to do what he did," she says. What Impact Will the Latino Vote Have in Texas This Year? Hall is now 34 years old. So without knowing anything was wrong, Laura says she showed up at Colton's apartment just before dawn on Aug. 17, 2005. She had spent time in Austin as a student, but was about to start work at a law firm. 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However, there was one part of Coltons life that even he couldnt control, and that was the constant temptation of drugs and alcohol. It was just playing with it, like it was a toy. Laura Hall was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her part in the crime and has been released in 2018 after serving her time. As Jim Sedwick (Cave's stepfather) shakily recounts the fateful night in August 2005, in which he sneaks into Pitonyak's condo to search for his missing stepdaughter, Thomas and Butler pump the brakes and take a moment to describe the affectionate bond Cave had shared with Sedwick in 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. sisters and brother after Pitonyak was sentenced to 55 years in prison. [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. 'Some bitch.' The sentences, to be served concurrently, include 10 years for tampering with evidence and one year for hindering apprehension. Laura Hall is the only person who has shown this sort of vicious hatred for the last several years, said Joe Turner, Pitonyak's defense attorney. Sawyer countered that in fact Hall took no part in the abandoned dismemberment, a version of the story that the jury apparently found unpersuasive. He will not get a new trial, but his attorney now has more ammunition. She is to be sent back to jail. Abbott proposes. Colton Pitonyak's mother wept during the verdict, but he was On October 28, 2011, the state denied parole to Laura Hall. Pitonyak is not eligible for parole until 2033. She had been shot dead and then stabbed numerous times; her hands and head had been severed and wrapped in a garbage bag left beside the tub. Pitonyak, a former honor student, had been on a downward spiral of dealing drugs and abusing drugs and alcohol. She died in the residence of UT student Colton Pitonyak. ", Ryan, Harriet. police found Cave's Saturn sedan parked on a street near the Prosecutor Stephanie McFarland holds the hacksaw used to on her son's behalf. 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. 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