True Crime Vault: My Son Is Not a Monster

Summary

20/20 Podcast Summary: "True Crime Vault: My Son Is Not a Monster"

Podcast Information:

• Title: 20/20
• Host/Author: ABC News
• Episode: True Crime Vault: My Son Is Not a Monster
• Release Date: June 10, 2025

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Introduction to the Case

The 20/20 episode titled "True Crime Vault: My Son Is Not a Monster" delves into a harrowing true crime story that unravels over more than a decade. Set in the small town of Wampum, Pennsylvania, the case revolves around the tragic murder of Kenzie Hauk, an eight-and-a-half-months-pregnant woman, and the subsequent accusation against her 11-year-old stepson, Jordan Brown.

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The Incident: A Tragic Morning

On a frigid morning in February 2009, Kenzie Hauk was found dead in her bedroom, shot execution-style in the back of her head. The horrifying discovery was made by her four-year-old daughter, Adelyn, who found her mother sobbing and discovered the grim scene shortly after [06:58].

Police Officer: "We assumed that somehow she had hemorrhaged. We didn't touch her, we didn't move her. At that point, we're trying to maintain the integrity of the scene." [07:05]

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The Arrest: Jordan Brown Under Suspicion

Within 18 hours of the murder, the police arrested Jordan Brown, Kenzie's 11-year-old stepson. Holding a shotgun found at the scene, which belonged to Jordan—a gift from his father for Christmas—the authorities quickly pinned the murder on him.

Chris Brown (Jordan’s Father): "They told me that her and the baby were gone and I remember collapsing in the yard. I lost it." [07:44]

Despite being a child who "believed in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny," Jordan was thrust into the role of an accused murderer. His arrest was marked by intense media frenzy, branding him as the "world's youngest monster" [01:11], [10:22].

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Evidence Against Jordan Brown

The prosecution's case hinged on several pieces of circumstantial evidence:

1. Gunshot Residue: Jordan's clothing showed traces of gunpowder residue, suggesting he had fired a shotgun [15:12].

   Prosecutor John Bonjavengo: "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania failed to prove Jordan Brown guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." [40:48]

2. Shell Casings: Three 20-gauge shell casings were found outside the home, with one in pristine condition near the driveway [15:43].

   Police Officer: "That shell was found adjacent to the driveway in late February in pristine condition." [15:51]

3. Shotgun Proximity: The shotgun found belonged to Jordan and was suspected to be the murder weapon, though no definitive forensic link was established [12:03], [32:10].

4. Witness Statements: Initially, a seven-year-old witness, Janessa, identified Jordan as the shooter [10:13], [32:00].

However, these evidences were later challenged, raising questions about their validity.

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Alternative Suspect: Adam Harvey

Amidst the investigation, another potential suspect emerged: Adam Harvey, Kenzie’s ex-boyfriend. Harvey had a history of threatening Kenzie, holding protection orders against him [19:20]. Interestingly, Jordan mentioned seeing a black truck the morning of the murder, which matched Harvey's vehicle.

Chris Brown: "The police asked me if there was anybody out there that I thought would have done something to her. And the first person to come to mind was Adam Harvey." [19:08]

Despite initial suspicions, forensic evidence did not support Harvey's involvement:

• Absence of Gunshot Residue: Harvey's hands showed no signs of gunshot residue [21:29].

• Time Constraints: Tracy Officer noted the improbability of Harvey's truck making the 24-mile drive in the snow without leaving tracks [20:05].

Furthermore, a crucial detail emerged: Adelyn, Kenzie's younger daughter, was not Adam Harvey’s biological child, adding complexity to his motive. Ultimately, Harvey was cleared due to lack of evidence and a solid alibi, leaving the case against Jordan Brown unchallenged [21:17], [22:26].

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Life Behind Bars: A Father's Struggle

After his arrest, Jordan was detained in a juvenile facility where his life changed drastically. His father, Chris Brown, faced the emotional and financial toll of visiting his son daily for four hours, driving 230 miles round trip [23:36], [25:04].

Jordan Brown: "No, I didn't understand anything at all." [24:31]

Despite appeals and support from legal advocates, Jordan was tried as an adult. His conviction was swift and severe, leading to a double homicide charge at just 14 years old [31:08].

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Legal Battle: Trial and Overturning the Conviction

The case took a dramatic turn years later when, after exhaustive legal battles, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturned Jordan Brown's conviction due to insufficient evidence [32:10].

Jordan Brown: "I was crying in the picture. I was crying that whole night. I didn't understand what was happening." [11:13]

The court’s decision acknowledged that the evidence against Jordan did not meet the required standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt." This rare ruling highlighted significant flaws in the initial investigation and prosecution [40:16].

Jordan Brown: "The truth finally got out." [40:51]

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Reflections and Current Status

Released after nearly 21 years of wrongful imprisonment, Jordan Brown now seeks to rebuild his life, maintaining his innocence throughout:

Jordan Brown: "I'm innocent. That's like the only thing I really want people to know." [43:33]

Meanwhile, Kenzie's family remains unconvinced of Jordan’s innocence, holding steadfast to their belief in his guilt. Chris Brown continues to argue that the true perpetrator remains free, believing that Adam Harvey or another unknown individual committed the murder [42:10], [42:20].

Chris Brown: "You took an 11-year-old's childhood away from him. You've ruined his name." [42:20]

The episode underscores the profound impact of wrongful accusations on both the accused and the victim's family, highlighting the complexities and challenges within the criminal justice system.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Chris Brown: "I see somebody who just committed a murder. That's why there's a mugshot." [00:43]

• Jordan Brown: "No, I didn't understand anything at all." [02:05], [24:31]

• Police Officer: "We had a youth model shotgun in the house that had smelled like it had recently been fired." [12:45]

• Prosecutor John Bonjavengo: "He's a murderer." [28:00]

• Jordan Brown: "I was crying in the picture. I was crying that whole night." [11:13]

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Conclusion: A Story of Injustice and Hope

The "True Crime Vault: My Son Is Not a Monster" episode of 20/20 paints a poignant picture of an 11-year-old boy wrongfully accused and convicted of a heinous crime he maintains he did not commit. Through compelling interviews, personal accounts, and critical analysis of the evidence, the episode invites listeners to reflect on the fallibility of the justice system and the enduring quest for truth and redemption.

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Note: This summary is based on the provided transcript and is structured to offer a comprehensive overview of the podcast episode for those who have not listened to it.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Newport Beach, California sits just south of Los Angeles. It's 2012 and the owner of a marijuana dispensary has been kidnapped, tortured and left for dead in the Mojave Desert. It began a decade long game of cat and mouse between investigators and a perpetrator. A mastermind of escape. He's a psychopath. Oh my God. They let Hannibal Lecter out. Devil in the Desert coming June 17th. Welcome to the 2020 True Crime Vault where heart stopping headlines come to life. What do you see in this mug shot?

[Chris Brown]

I see somebody who just committed a murder. That's why there's a mug shot. You have a kid who believes in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, but.

[Narrator]

Is now standing accused of murder. And not just any kid, but his very own.

[Chris Brown]

He was sitting there with shackles on, belted, handcuffed, like. Unbelievable.

[Narrator]

Tonight in all new 2020, the little.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Boy convicted of killing his father's pregnant fiance.

[Chris Brown]

We arrested an 11 year old boy because he put his shotgun to the back of somebody's head and pulled the trigger.

[Narrator]

An 11 year old who police say loaded his shotgun then shot her in the back of the head.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

The world's youngest monster. And that fueled the media frenzy. Child killer who may never know freedom again. That mug shot across the world, Jordan.

[Narrator]

Would have been the youngest child ever to be sentenced to life without parole. A father's fight to get him out.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

He's lost his childhood on a false conviction and he needs to be exonerated.

[Narrator]

And the family that thinks he should stay in.

[Chris Brown]

Jordan's a murderer and I'll say it. And his father needs to get in.

[Narrator]

The mirror every morning and say, I.

[Chris Brown]

Am the father of a murderer.

[Narrator]

Now, after a bombshell twist, Jordan Brown is speaking out for the first time after seven years behind bars. Did you at 11 understand that you could face life in prison?

[Jordan Brown]

No, I didn't understand anything at all.

[Narrator]

What was going on tonight, the question that still lingers. If he didn't do it, who did? You think that this led to a real killer getting away with murder?

[Chris Brown]

Absolutely. And there's a murderer walking amongst us.

[Narrator]

This is 20 20. Tonight, ABC's Juju Chang right here with a dramatic game changer in a case show that she's been covering for nine years now. This is Jordan Brown when he was still a typical fifth grader. Quarterback of the Pee Wee football team, the warriors, coached by his father Chris, a single dad.

[Chris Brown]

Jordan had always been the center of his father's universe.

[Police Officer]

They were best friends.

[Chris Brown]

They did everything together.

[Narrator]

Their hometown, Wampum, Pennsylvania. 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, a rural oasis for water lovers and off roaders.

[Chris Brown]

It's a heavily wooded area with a.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Lot of small towns, a lot of.

[Chris Brown]

Hills and it's very beautiful.

[Narrator]

Jordan's childhood is filled with typical birthday parties, petting zoos and pony rides. His dad closely by his side. Jordan's grin lighting up his elementary school photos year after year. What was Jordan like? What kind of kid was he at 11?

[Chris Brown]

He was your average 11 year old kid. All American child, you know, played sports, baseball, football, had friends.

[Narrator]

This is Jordan Brown today, now 21, remembering that tender precious time in his life fondly. What kind of childhood would you say you had up until 11?

[Jordan Brown]

Normal I guess. I mean had friends always coming over. We used to always play and like games, like video games.

[Narrator]

And back then Chris was happy too. Working and shipping at a local tableware factory. Engaged to a woman he'd known since his teens, Kenzie Hauk, a hairstylist and stay at home mom, also a single parent, mother of two young girls, seven year old Janessa and four year old Adeline. What made you love her?

[Chris Brown]

Who she was, who she was? A person. Kenzie was real feisty, she was funny, she always had a beautiful smile, liked everybody and she loved her children.

[Narrator]

That's all she ever said. When you say what do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a mom. I want kids. Kenzie and Chris and their kids had recently moved in together to this farmhouse. The new blended family seemed to be bonding. Jordan even called Kenzie mom. What was your relationship like with your soon to be stepmom?

[Jordan Brown]

It was strong, she was really nice. I liked her a lot.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

She bent over backwards form.

[Chris Brown]

She had a good relationship with him.

[Narrator]

And a new sibling was on the way. Chris and Kenzie were eagerly awaiting a baby together, a boy they had already named Christopher.

[Chris Brown]

She was thrilled. That's what she wanted. I had had a shower, all the clothing was washed, diapers where they were supposed to be and everything. Yeah, she was ready.

[Narrator]

You were excited about the baby on the way?

[Chris Brown]

Oh yeah, absolutely. You know what father wouldn't be.

[Jordan Brown]

I was happy. I always wanted a little brother and that's what it was, a boy. So that's what I was going to get.

[Narrator]

So you were excited about it?

[Jordan Brown]

Yeah, I was really excited.

[Narrator]

It's a frigid February morning in 2009. Kenzie is eight and a half months pregnant. But their hopes for a future together as a family are about to be shattered.

[Chris Brown]

I remember getting up that morning, running a little late for work. She'd asked me to stay home that day and I didn't. And that's something that's haunted me.

[Narrator]

What do you remember?

[Jordan Brown]

It was just a normal morning. My sister Janessa woke me up.

[Narrator]

Kenzie is asleep in the downstairs bedroom. Jordan is in his bedroom upstairs. Once the baby arrived, they were going to swap bedrooms. So Jordan had already moved his clothes downstairs.

[Jordan Brown]

Went downstairs, got my clothes, went in the bathroom, got dressed and we just sat on the couch in the living room waiting. And then Kenzie told us to go because the bus was coming and we're going to be late. So we hurry up and went out the back door and ran down the driveway, went to school.

[Narrator]

Around 8:15am Jordan and Janessa leave for school. Four year old Adelyn is asleep upstairs. 9am Tree trimmers arrive to work around the house. A short time later, a tree trimmer sees Adeline in the doorway sobbing. She tells him her mother is dead. He calls 911.

[Police Officer]

And as we arrived on the scene and did our initial assessment, Kenzie was in the bedroom.

[Narrator]

What was your impression at that point?

[Police Officer]

We assumed that somehow she had hemorrhaged. We didn't touch her, we didn't move her. At that point we're trying to maintain the integrity of the scene.

[Narrator]

When did you realize you had a murder on your hands?

[Police Officer]

The coroner was taking photos and I was standing right at the edge of the doorway and I remember the coroner saying as he started to touch the body, we have a problem. And that's when we realized that it was a homicide.

[Narrator]

26 year old Kenzie had been shot in the back of the head, execution style. Police attempt cpr, but it's too late. Then police make the dreaded call to Chris telling him to come home immediately.

[Chris Brown]

They told me that her and the baby were gone and I remember collapsing in the yard. I lost it.

[Narrator]

Chris Brown is interviewed at the state police barracks.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

You're voluntarily giving us a statement. You're not under arrest or freedom.

[Narrator]

Okay. Was Chris Brown a suspect?

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Well, when you open an investigation you have to leave everything open as far as who may be suspects.

[Narrator]

Chris describes his final moments with Kenzie.

[Chris Brown]

I gave her a kiss, told her I loved her. She kissed me back and I left. Okay.

[Narrator]

Chris had been at work at the factory and his hands are clean of gunpowder residue. So he's quickly eliminated as a suspect. Meanwhile, police head to Mohawk Elementary School to speak with the children. Kenzie's daughter Janessa doesn't report anything out of the ordinary. Sounded like a typical Morning for Jordan too.

[Jordan Brown]

There were two troopers at the time. They know they were troopers and they asked me the same thing you just did, like if anything unusual happened. And I just told him that, you know, it was just a normal morning.

[Narrator]

But he does tell police he saw a black truck by the garage. In the very first interview with police, you mentioned that you saw a vehicle in the driveway.

[Jordan Brown]

I didn't think anything of it. You know, it was just a truck. I thought it was just some guy there doing work or something. But that's why I told him.

[Narrator]

3:30Am the following morning. A grieving father and son have just managed to finally nod off when the silence of the night is broken by someone pounding at the door.

[Chris Brown]

I had just fallen asleep and of course the stressful day that we had.

[Narrator]

You had just lost your fiance?

[Chris Brown]

Absolutely. I don't even know how I fell asleep. Jordan was laying in my arm bawling and that's how we fell asleep and we woke up shortly after.

[Narrator]

It's the police. They have a Warrant to arrest 11 year old Jordan Brown.

[Jordan Brown]

All I remember was they came and got me at 3 in the morning. They put me in the back of the car and they took me to the police base and I was in there and then they took me straight to the county jail and I had no idea I was going. I wasn't with anybody. It was just a bunch of strangers.

[Chris Brown]

I was mind blown.

[Narrator]

Next. Jordan's life as a regular kid is officially over. He's now an accused killer. You arrest him within less than 24 hours, you're convinced he's the murderer.

[Chris Brown]

Yes, or we wouldn't have arrested him.

[Narrator]

And another interview with that seven year old witness becomes a bombshell.

[Chris Brown]

She heard a big boom and she identified it as the sound of a gun.

[Narrator]

Stay with us.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

It happened inside this Pennsylvania farmhouse.

[Narrator]

Child killer accused of a shocking crime.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

At the age of 11. The general reaction around town and in.

[Chris Brown]

The area really was one of shock.

[Narrator]

Just 18 hours after the murder of 26 year old Kenzie Hauk, Pennsylvania state police have made an arrest. The suspect, not some hardened criminal. It's an 11 year old boy, Jordan Brown, accused of gunning down his pregnant, soon to be stepmom. The tiny town of Wampum with a population of roughly 600 now has millions of eyes on it. Jordan Brown was just 11 years old. Last February, that mugshot of Jordan Brown.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

That sort of became an icon of the story, spread across the world.

[Narrator]

This is the mug shot that was taken.

[Jordan Brown]

I was crying in the picture. I was Crying that whole night. I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't know where I was at, like what was going on or anything.

[Narrator]

Did you understand what you stood accused of?

[Jordan Brown]

No, I didn't understand.

[Narrator]

What do you see in this mug shot?

[Chris Brown]

I see somebody who just committed a murder. That's why there's a mugshot.

[Narrator]

Retired state police Corporal Jeffrey Martin says the first critical clue was from the autopsy which revealed the single gunshot to the head and the shotgun pellets that killed her.

[Police Officer]

I've never expected to have the murder weapon to be a shotgun.

[Narrator]

And so what is that telling you in terms of a suspect?

[Police Officer]

It's more of a weapon of opportunity. It's not a weapon that someone's going to carry across the field or carry up a driveway. It's three feet long and basically the only way to get to the house is up through this driveway.

[Narrator]

At the Brown's farmhouse, investigators found a collection of weapons. Handguns, rifles, several rounds of ammunition and a child sized shotgun that belongs to Jordan, a gift from his father for Christmas. Tell me a little bit about the hunting culture in rural areas of Pennsylvania.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

It's fairly common. Most especially young males would grow up learning to shoot firearms.

[Narrator]

So it's not unusual for a kid to have a shotgun hunting rifle?

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

No.

[Narrator]

How often did you go hunting with your dad?

[Jordan Brown]

Oh, as much as he would take me.

[Narrator]

But two police officers at the scene are suspicious. When they take a whiff of that barrel, it starts to seem like, well, a smoking gun.

[Police Officer]

We had a youth model shotgun in the house that had smelled like it had recently been fired.

[Narrator]

But what really turns the case, police say are the additional interviews they conduct with Jordan and 7 year old Janessa on the day of. So what made you suspect Jordan?

[Police Officer]

When we interview someone, you expect them to give their account, wait a little while, interview them again and they should give the same account. And I don't know if that happened in this case. This was photo would have been taken.

[Narrator]

Investigators say in his second interview.

[Police Officer]

If you look up here, Jordan described.

[Narrator]

That black truck he saw that morning differently and he now added that there was a person inside.

[Chris Brown]

Now all of a sudden someone was ducking down inside the truck and they had a hat on.

[Narrator]

His information changed and police believe the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence comes from Kenzie's seven year old daughter Janessa. Police say at first she didn't report anything out of the ordinary that morning. But when she is re interviewed she has a startling new recollection. Police say she tells them she Saw Jordan his guns that morning.

[Chris Brown]

And then she told me that when she was waiting downstairs for Jordan, she heard a big boom and she identified it as the sound of a gun.

[Narrator]

Do you remember doing anything with those guns that day?

[Jordan Brown]

No.

[Narrator]

You never brought the guns downstairs?

[Jordan Brown]

No, I never touched them.

[Narrator]

What was the motive in your mind for Jordan to do this?

[Chris Brown]

In my opinion, jealousy. Jealousy of the impending birth.

[Narrator]

And Kenzie's father told us he had seen another side of Jordan.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

He just seemed like he was a troubled kid.

[Chris Brown]

He just seemed like he wasn't like.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

A real happy kid. I don't get it.

[Narrator]

Back at the Lawrence County Jail after Jordan's arrest, Chris is separated from his son and horrified by the sight of him behind bars.

[Chris Brown]

The smallest jumpsuit they had they put on him. And it was just rolled up and rolled up and rolled up. And I remember just big balls and cuffs around his.

[Narrator]

Like a Halloween costume.

[Chris Brown]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Narrator]

So you got a call in the middle of the night.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Middle of the night.

[Narrator]

Defense attorney Dennis Alisko rushes to the jail.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

It was beyond surreal. He was in a state of absolute shock.

[Chris Brown]

They couldn't understand why he couldn't come home. You know, at 11 years old, that's so hard.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

The whole situation, I'd say is heinous. It's difficult to charge an 11 year old with homicide.

[Narrator]

So you have to be really sure it's to be sure enough to charge him.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Yes.

[Narrator]

Prosecutor John Bonjavengo tells reporters he is confident in his arrest, especially because Jordan's clothing showed some evidence of gunpowder residue. I have a shotgun blast at the.

[Jordan Brown]

Back of the head.

[Chris Brown]

It's consistent with a 20 gauge shotgun shell.

[Narrator]

I have a 20 gauge youth model in his room. Smells like it's recently fired and he's.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Got gun residue on him.

[Chris Brown]

I think that at this point is more than enough.

[Narrator]

And he believes there's even more evidence against young Jordan brown. Police found three 20 gauge shell casings outside the home and particular caught their eye.

[Police Officer]

That shell was found adjacent to the driveway in a late February in pristine condition.

[Narrator]

In that second interview he had with police, Jordan refers to throwing lint out of his pocket on the way to the bus. McGraw thinks he threw something else. You're convinced that it was the lethal bullet from this 20 gauge shotgun? Correct. You didn't immediately assume that he was innocent?

[Chris Brown]

Correct. I kind of took a step back and thought, could this have happened? I didn't see any signs. I didn't want to believe it.

[Narrator]

Could Jordan have done this?

[Chris Brown]

Yeah, right. So. But at the same time, I said if he is responsible for this, he needs help.

[Narrator]

And so what made you convinced?

[Chris Brown]

Once I, once I talked to Jordan. I know my son and I know if I ask him a question if he's lying to me or not. An 11 year old couldn't plan her own birthday party, let alone, you know, to think that they could do something like that.

[Narrator]

Next.

[Police Officer]

This case would have been easy if it would have been somebody other than Jordan, if it would have been an ex boyfriend.

[Narrator]

But it turns out Kenzie Hauk did have an ex boyfriend.

[Chris Brown]

There were seven people that they talked to and interviewed who could have done this? Who could have hurt her? All seven people said the same name. Adam Harvey.

[Narrator]

Who's Adam Harvey? The answer when 2020 returns. This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this, Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treatment start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free [e-mail] Spotify greenlight.com Spotify your gut affects everything, even your mood. So Ollie created two brand new products to take care of your insides. Ollie Big 10 Probiotic has 10 strains of probiotics, their most ever to support a healthy gut, microbiome, immune system and stress response. And Ollie Super Good Superfoods delivers 15 superfoods in tasty gummy form. Find them at ollie.com and exclusively at Walmart. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or Prevent any disease. 11 year old Jordan Brown is having to grow up pretty fast. Sitting in a 6x10 foot jail cell will do that to you. And you were pretty convinced he still believed in Santa Claus.

[Chris Brown]

Yeah, you have a kid who believes in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.

[Narrator]

But is now standing accused of murder.

[Chris Brown]

Masterminding something that sent a dozen state troopers on a wild goose chase.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

The world's youngest monster. And that fueled the media frenzy and the presumption of guilt that stayed with the case throughout.

[Narrator]

But if Jordan didn't kill Kinsey, then who did? Chris Brown believes investigators had tunnel vision and need to take a long hard look at Adam Harvey, Kenzie's ex boyfriend of six years. A look at Harvey's Facebook page shows a cat Lover. There's even a picture of Adam with Kenzie.

[Chris Brown]

The police asked me if there was anybody out there that I thought would have done something to her. And the first person to come to mind was Adam Harvey. She feared him.

[Narrator]

She was terrified of him.

[Chris Brown]

She had protection orders, protection from abuse orders.

[Narrator]

In that protective order, Kenzie claimed Adam had left messages threatening to kill her and her entire family. Adam Harvey denies all of those claims.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Unbeknownst to Jordan, his soon to be stepmother had a PFA against a gentleman who had been threatening to kill her, leaving threatening messages, who happened to drive a black truck.

[Narrator]

A black truck. Remember, Jordan said he saw a black truck on the morning Kenzie was murdered.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Jordan Brown described a black truck pickup truck, which coincidentally, Adam Harvey was stopped in. It's hugely significant.

[Narrator]

The police, however, are not swayed, saying Harvey's black truck that day didn't look like it could have made the almost 24 mile drive to and from Kenzie's house and still have snow on it.

[Police Officer]

There was a light coating of snow that we had on the ground. And when his truck was pulled over a short distance from his house, it still had snow on the hood. We cannot get over the fact that Adam Harvey did not have time to drive there and had the snow on his car.

[Narrator]

But there is something the police discovered when interviewing Harvey. Kenzie's little girl, Adelyn, who was believed to be his daughter, was not his daughter after all.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

He discovered a couple months before the homicide that he was not the biological father.

[Narrator]

This photo posted on Adam's Facebook page years after Kenzie's murder, shows Harvey holding a newborn baby. He writes, that's Adelyn I'm holding. Lied to for years. Everyone knew and never said a thing. Adam told police he and Kenzie had fought over money. She wanted financial support for little Adeline. But Adam refused because at the time he suspected the child wasn't his.

[Police Officer]

He was the first person was interviewed. He was the first person we located. To me, he was. He's the guy. He had a PFA on him. This was textbook here. This is the guy. This is going to be easy.

[Narrator]

But police say the investigation into Harvey quickly lost steam. They tested his hands for the presence of gunshot residue and there was none. And Harvey told police he didn't even know where Kenzie lived.

[Police Officer]

And as the interview progressed through the first half hour, maybe 40 minutes, I just got no indication that it was Adam.

[Narrator]

So within an hour of an interview, you felt it wasn't him?

[Police Officer]

Well, the interview went longer, but generally a half hour, 45 minutes. You get cues and you'll see body language and you'll get indicators.

[Narrator]

And you saw nothing?

[Police Officer]

I saw nothing. I saw a gentleman in front of me that was crying and he had.

[Narrator]

He was crying, like crying?

[Police Officer]

Yes. Even with the relationship they had, Adam was still in love with Kenzie.

[Narrator]

Investigators say Adam Harvey cooperated during the investigation. He said he'd take a polygraph. He also had an alibi, which his father backed up. He told police he did not harm Kenzie that morning. So in less than a day, Adam Harvey was no longer a suspect. It's such a small window and such.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

An unlikely set of circumstances that one. He found out where she lived. He knew the doors were unlocked. He KNEW There was a 20 gauge shotgun that they have in the house. And he gets there after everybody leaves.

[Narrator]

Before it snows, with no tracks and.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Gets by the tree cutting guys. It seems highly unlikely.

[Narrator]

Next, a father's fight for his son's freedom. What was it like hearing that he could face life in prison if convicted as an adult?

[Chris Brown]

Holy cow. I can't believe this is happening. There's no middle ground. So he's either looking at life in prison or home in time to learn how to drive.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

It's an amazing contrast.

[Narrator]

Stay with us. Imagine driving four hours a day to visit your incarcerated 11 year old son when you're convinced he's innocent of murdering your fiance and unborn child. He's awaiting trial, housed in a juvenile detention center in Erie, Pennsylvania. 230 miles round trip, every day.

[Jordan Brown]

Every day.

[Chris Brown]

We were there over a thousand times.

[Narrator]

Prosecutor John Bonjavengo thinks he has his man, or rather his boy. Jordan, just 11 years old, is charged with murder as an adult.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Under Pennsylvania law, you really don't have a choice.

[Narrator]

Murder is specifically excluded from the Juvenile Act.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

So it's either not charged or that's he's charged as an adult.

[Narrator]

The punishment if convicted, Life in prison.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Without the possibility of parole in an adult prison.

[Narrator]

We saw the headlines. I was appalled. Jordan's case quickly draws attention from advocates like Marsha Levick of the Juvenile Law center, who joined forces with Jordan's attorney in his defense. Jordan would have been the youngest child ever to be sentenced to life without parole. Did you at 11, understand that you could face life in prison?

[Jordan Brown]

No, I didn't understand anything at all.

[Narrator]

What was going on once he was charged. This is all about getting it out of adult court and into juvenile court.

[Chris Brown]

There's no middle ground. He's either looking at life in prison or home in time. To learn how to drive, which when you think about that is just.

[Narrator]

It's an amazing contrast, Chris says, with his focus on Jordan's legal plight. His grief for the loss of Kenzie and their unborn baby had to take a backseat. But it was almost as if you couldn't take time to mourn her because you were so busy.

[Chris Brown]

No, really, really haven't had a chance to grieve properly.

[Narrator]

The four hour daily journey to see Jordan is wreaking havoc on Chris's finances.

[Chris Brown]

It cost me my job and what money that I had coming in went into the gas tank and went into things that he needed.

[Jordan Brown]

The visits were two to four, so I couldn't wait till two and they were like five minutes late. I used to get like antsy then. I never wanted to leave. But looking back now though, I don't know what I would have done without them. They played a big role in like keeping my head straight.

[Narrator]

You were 11, 12. Along with like 17 year old hardened defenders.

[Chris Brown]

Oh yeah.

[Narrator]

Did you see fights?

[Jordan Brown]

Oh yeah, probably every day.

[Chris Brown]

He'd say, dad, he said, you wouldn't believe what I seen today. One kid threatened to stab another one in the neck. You know, while we were eating on.

[Narrator]

His 12th birthday, Jordan's old football buddies come to visit.

[Jordan Brown]

It was like the best date I ever had because I haven't seen my friends for so long. And they all came up and we were there for a couple hours.

[Narrator]

This was not an easy move to juvenile court. It's not like the court said, oh, you're 11, of course we'll move it to juvenile court. These kinds of legal fights take a long time, sometimes years. In fact, years pass. Jordan attends classes in detention but says he was mainly self taught. He bides his time absorbed in books. He would read them with a dictionary at his side.

[Jordan Brown]

So if I would read something, come across a word I didn't know, look it up that way I know what was trying to be said then. That's how I read.

[Narrator]

What kinds of books did you like to read?

[Jordan Brown]

I was a big fantasy reader.

[Narrator]

I take it it was a bit of an escape for you.

[Jordan Brown]

Well, it was. It was a whole different world. I'd like lose myself in the book.

[Narrator]

Then pass the time.

[Jordan Brown]

Right. Time flew when you were reading.

[Narrator]

Jordan's only time away from the detention center are for his court visits.

[Jordan Brown]

Whenever I would go from Erie down to Newcastle for court, I'd have shackles and handcuffs on.

[Chris Brown]

I used to get so mad about that. You may have a 17 year old that can overpower a grown man and take off. But an 11 year old, an 11 year old who's 4 foot 9, he was sitting there and his feet were swinging off of the floor, just dangling with shackles on, belted, handcuffed like. Unbelievable.

[Narrator]

Throughout Jordan's years in detention in Erie, Chris continues to ask his son, did you kill Kenzie?

[Chris Brown]

I gave him every opportunity. Jordan, listen, if something happens, accidents happen, buddy. If something happened, tell me. I'm not gonna be mad at you. I'm your dad. I'm never not gonna be your dad. I'm never not gonna be here every day.

[Narrator]

And what did he say?

[Chris Brown]

Never. Never changed his story. Maintained his innocence throughout from day one.

[Narrator]

Obviously, the police believe that you killed Kenzie. Did you kill Kenzie?

[Jordan Brown]

No.

[Narrator]

Kenzie's family remain convinced Jordan is guilty and that he should face maximum punishment. I'm hoping, I'm hoping, I'm hoping he's gonna be charged as an adult because that's what he is. He did an adult crime.

[Chris Brown]

Jordan's a murderer and I'll say it. And his father needs to get in the mirror every morning and look in that mirror and say, I am the father of a murderer.

[Narrator]

August 2011. Two years after Jordan's arrest. Finally a judge's ruling and it's a big break for Jordan. He won't be tried as an adult but as a juvenile. What was your reaction?

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

I was greatly relieved.

[Narrator]

The stakes could not have been higher.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Not have been higher.

[Narrator]

Defense attorney Dennis Olisco brings on co counsel Steve Kahlofella to help prepare for the juvenile trial. With those fresh eyes come some raised eyebrows.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

I mean, I really was expecting this. Overwhelming evidence and forensics and witnesses and all the things that you typically see or would hope to see in a case of that magnitude. For them to be so sure that they're going to take this little 11 year old boy through that process, it just wasn't there.

[Narrator]

Coming up, a new witness who has never spoken publicly before. Talking only to 2020 tonight. The little girl who found Kenzie's body. Yeah, I remember everything. Stay with us. This episode is brought to you by.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

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[Narrator]

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[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

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[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

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[Narrator]

Shop now at Amazon.com blink for just $69.99. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in a reverse auctioneer which is apparently a thing.

[Chris Brown]

Mint Mobile Unlimited premium wireless. Everybody get 30, 30. Better get 30, better get 20, 20, 20. Better get 20, 20, better get 15, 15, 15, 15.

[Narrator]

Just 15 bucks a month. Sold. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of 45 dollars for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

For the family of the victim, there's pain in Jordan Brown denying he shot Kenzie Haug in the head as she slept.

[Narrator]

She was eight and a half months pregnant. It's been three years since Jordan Brown entered this Pennsylvania detention center. So long that there's now a new prosecutor on the case. Chris Brown hasn't stopped hoping the scales of justice will finally tilt in his son's favor.

[Chris Brown]

He has total faith in both of his attorneys and he believes that he's going to eventually come home.

[Narrator]

But if Pennsylvania investigators have their way, it will be years before Jordan Brown tastes freedom.

[Chris Brown]

There is not a trooper on scene that day that has lost one second of sleep over this case in a.

[Narrator]

Murder trial that barely lasted three days. The case is decided by a jury of one. Judge John Hodge. Once you have a bench trial, it's one person who's making that decision. Judge Hodge's verdict, swift and severe. Jordan Brown, by then 14 years old, guilty of double homicide. And pray that somehow through today, the.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Hauck family's prayers were answered. This afternoon when a judge announced a guilty.

[Narrator]

It's a stunning gut punch for Jordan.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Brown and his legal team when he announced that verdict. Just looking at Jordan and feeling like we had failed him and just feeling so sorry for him at that moment.

[Narrator]

But still convinced Jordan is innocent, his lawyers vow to take their fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Because he's lost his childhood on a false conviction and he needs to be exonerated.

[Narrator]

Jordan's lawyers begin picking apart the prosecution's case, starting with that youth model shotgun that authorities say smelled like it had recently been shot.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Those law enforcement officers who said that they smelled it was recently fired, they conceded that they have no expertise or training.

[Narrator]

And yet they dubbed it the smoking gun.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Correct. They dubbed it the smoking gun.

[Narrator]

You arrested an 11 year old boy based on the Smell of a recently shot shotgun and a shell casing that was found after he was arrested.

[Chris Brown]

And someone who was within feet and heard the blast.

[Narrator]

Remember that someone is Kenzie's older daughter, Janessa. But it turns out that explosive statement she gave police where she said she heard a boom right before they left for school. That bombshell was never entered into evidence at trial. Janessa never testified. Does it occur to you that maybe they didn't enter it into evidence because it wasn't reliable?

[Chris Brown]

No. No way, shape or form. You're talking about a seven year old taking a stand in a courtroom. It had nothing to do with her being unreliable.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

All they really arrested him on largely was the statement of Janessa. As time went on, they completely abandoned that statement, which would have been the strongest evidence in the case, and rather tried to pursue a prosecution based upon this forensic evidence.

[Narrator]

But the forensic pickings are slim. Starting with that shell casing they claim Jordan tossed on his way to the school bus.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

On that property where they lived on a farm. There were shotgun shells all over the place. They routinely shot on that property. The discovery of that shell was not significant.

[Narrator]

And police were never able to prove Jordan's shotgun was the murder weapon. All you can really say is it was this type of gun, but you can't definitively say it was this gun. Also curious is the fact that there was no blood or tissue, also known as blowback, found on Jordan's gun.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

The absence of any tissue or blood on his clothing, on the barrel of the gun. It's almost inconceivable that a shotgun was fired at close range. And it wouldn't deposit any tissue, any blood on the barrel of the gun or on his clothing, which he wore to school. It was appalling to me that they seemingly just ignored that fact throughout the case.

[Narrator]

But the prosecution's expert testified that the angle at which the gun was shot could have minimized the blowback. And the police have their own theory.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Our theory is that the blowback would have been stopped, most of it, if not all of it, from the hair of Kenzie.

[Narrator]

You think hair would stop the blowback of a shotgun blast?

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Between the hair and the fold in the skin with the direction that was pulled back. Yes.

[Narrator]

But those seasoned investigators who admit they rarely work on murder cases insist they have the goods on Jordan Brown. Why did you arrest him at 3:30 in the morning?

[Police Officer]

Because we wanted to do a search warrant on his clothes also.

[Narrator]

And what did you find on his clothes?

[Police Officer]

They discovered gunshot residue and gunshot particles on his shirt and Pants.

[Narrator]

The defense argues that gunpowder came from a jacket Jordan wore at a turkey shoot days earlier. And the prosecution's own expert says it's just as likely those two particles of gunshot residue could have transferred to Jordan's clothes. Which leaves Jordan's legal team with one big question. Where is the physical evidence? In order for this perfect storm of a crime to have happened, with the 11 year old as the trigger man, what would have had to take place?

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

This is precisely what would have had to have happened. Jordan Brown was sitting with his stepsister Janessa in a room adjacent to the room where the victim was sleeping. Run upstairs, grab a shotgun, load it with a shotgun shell, walk over to the bed, place that shotgun up against her head, pull that trigger, kill her, somehow manage to wipe whatever bodily fluid or blood might have been contained on the end of that gun, take it upstairs, replace it along the wall, remove the shell, run downstairs, wire his sister presumably was waiting for him, all without leaving a single clue.

[Narrator]

And Jordan's lawyers say the police timeline means it all happened within a couple of minutes.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

An 11 year old child can't make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drink a glass of milk without leaving clues.

[Narrator]

And tonight, a brand new witness, Kenzie's younger daughter Adelyn, 4 at the time, now 13, coming forward with an account that flies in the face of the police timeline. Mother, you fill my life with happiness and my heart with love. The gunshot was what had woken me up. I was so young, I did not know what the sound was. I was just gonna walk in to wake her up and her phone rings. I went and answered the phone and I was like, hi. And they were like, can I talk to your mama? I went in to wake her up and her face was facing me. I was just like, hey, mom, wake up. And when I turned her over, I realized. So I hung up the phone and I went outside. A tree trimmer spots Adelyn sometime after 9am and if you go. According to Adelyn's recollection, Jordan and Janessa would have been long gone on the school bus when Kinsey is killed. I just sat there and cried with my little blanket. Her family says Adelyn's shared bits of her story over the years, but it's something neither police nor Jordan's defense team have ever heard. His lawyers say her timeline means Jordan wasn't there, but we asked an investigator to respond who says after so many years, he finds her account not credible. So this is the. But we wondered if the timeline falls apart, what about the Forensics, did you ever check his hands for gunshot revenue? We did not. Can you tell me why no one dusted for fingerprints on the unlocked doors?

[Police Officer]

I don't know if it wasn't done.

[Narrator]

It was never reported because when this.

[Police Officer]

Initially happened, they didn't know what it was and they were going to try to save her and they actually tried to save her and they gave her cpr.

[Narrator]

So a bunch of people went in and out. So you're saying the crime scene was contaminated? The door, yeah. So you never got fingerprints off the door.

[Police Officer]

And we fingerprinted a gun and there's no fingerprints on the gun either. Fingerprints are very hard because you need a very perfectly good fingerprint that wasn't moved when it touched something.

[Narrator]

Fall 2017. More than eight years after his arrest, Jordan Brown's legal team will finally have their case heard by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

[Chris Brown]

I pray this never happens to another child.

[Narrator]

When we come back, what justice looks like for Jordan Brown. Stay with us.

[Chris Brown]

The stakes do not get any higher.

[Narrator]

I pledge allegiance to what I believe in Live to fight another day of yesterday Beat me cause I ain't getting younger but I'm getting better Got no time to waste that's another man's treasure. They say every dog has the two.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

Very best in the NBA thunder.

[Narrator]

The NBA finals. Presented by YouTube TV continue on ABC. Hey there, it's Ryan Reynolds. And if you're into weird animals and questionable life choices, well, you're in for a treat. You tell them Green Day. I've teamed up with Nat Geo to fast forward right past nature's loreaugs and get down in the mud. These guys are the grossest, most unlikely stars in the great movie of life. Underdogs new series Sunday at 9 on National Geographic stream. On Disney and Hulu Summer 2018, the stage is set for the final showdown at the Pennsylvania surprise Supreme Court in the topsy turvy legal case against Jordan Brown.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

The judges are being asked to rule Jordan Brown was wrongly found guilty on insufficient evidence.

[Narrator]

Since his arrest for murder in 2009. The now almost 21 year old Jordan spent seven of his summers under lock and key. He was released from detention at 18. But this past July, a stunning victory for the Browns and the two lawyers who worked the case pro bono. Pennsylvania's highest court sides with Jordan writing that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania failed to prove Jordan Brown guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. His conviction overturned. Now Jordan Brown is a man and a free one.

[Jordan Brown]

The truth finally got out.

[Narrator]

It is incredibly rare for a Supreme Court to say that there is simply not enough evidence here. It's not that the court is saying 100% he's innocent, but the court is saying that there's certainly not enough evidence to convict. During his incarceration, Jordan says He maintained a 3.9 GPA and taught himself to play guitar. He also became a pretty good basketball player. And through it all, he says he harbors no ill will.

[Jordan Brown]

No, I'm not. I'm not angry. I mean, I think the whole, like, what happened and the way it happened is bs, but I'm not. Can I say that?

[Narrator]

Yes, you can say that, but I.

[Jordan Brown]

Don'T think I'm angry.

[Narrator]

How do you explain to somebody what that's like to be accused of murder?

[Jordan Brown]

Well, being accused of it, it's a horrible feeling. It's really embarrassing. I feel like too. Like being in front of people and then not knowing what they're thinking.

[Narrator]

Because people thought you were a murderer.

[Jordan Brown]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

And in fact, Kenzie's family still believes that Jordan's guilty.

[Chris Brown]

I'm heartbroken. My heart goes out to them.

[Narrator]

You think that this accusation led to a real killer getting away with murder?

[Chris Brown]

Absolutely. And that's disturbing. There's a murderer walking amongst us that has been overlooked.

[Narrator]

If those troopers were standing right here, what would you say to them?

[Chris Brown]

Shame on you is probably the most polite way to put it. You took an 11 year old's childhood away from him. You've ruined his name. In essence. I mean, you google Jordan Brown and you get that mug shot picture that pops up. This case was investigated by. By some of the finest police officers in this country. Every trooper who investigated that case feels the same way. We did not get this wrong.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

We didn't get it wrong.

[Narrator]

As for Kenzie's daughters, they cling tightly to the memory of their beloved mom. We used to like, dance and sing on the fireplace. That was like my favorite memory. I'm just like her. I am her little mini me. Through the years of controversy, one truth never up for debate. Kenzie and her unborn child will remain forever in their hearts.

[Chris Brown]

I still love her. I miss her every day.

[Narrator]

Today, Jordan Brown is determined to leave his checkered past behind and focus on brighter days ahead.

[Jordan Brown]

That song I just played was called she talks to angels by the Black crows.

[Narrator]

And what do you want to tell the world about you?

[Jordan Brown]

That I'm innocent. That's like the only thing I really want people to know.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

If you know your party's extension, press.

[Narrator]

Or say 1 to leave a message.

[Chris Brown]

In our company mailbox.

[Narrator]

Press or say 2 spoiler alert.

[Kenzie Hauk's Family Member]

It will be full representative.

[Chris Brown]

Would you speak to your mother in that tone?

[Narrator]

Speak to a real human being. You shouldn't need to shout into the void to get your health insurance questions answered. Pacific Source Health Plants.

[Chris Brown]

This is a real person.

[Narrator]

How can I help you? Human service, not automated phone trees. Pacific Source Health Plans.