291131. I thought he was a very sexy guy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Except for the murder itself, he blamed Laura for almost everything. "I had no idea he was going to do what he did," she says. 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. Colton even had business experience since his father built his own successful business.It is easy to see that Pitonyak was a shoo-in for a successful stay at UTs elite business program. It was just playing with it, like it was toy," Bishop tells "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Maureen Maher. Jennifer Cave's mutilated body was found in the apartment of Pitonyak in 2005. "All I had was a flashlight. Bishop says of the smiling couple, "She does not appear to be there against her will.". "I am accused of some unspeakable things. A Connecticut woman says her two 10-year-old German Shepherds, Cimo and Lieben, were shot, beheaded, and killed by a hunter from New York. And Bishop says Laura's DNA was found on a key piece of evidence. Laura will wait behind bars to find out what her final sentence will be. Pedro Fernandez (pictured), Pitonyak and Hall went to the home of the hotel manager, Pedro 48 Hours In Too Deep: Laura Hall. "Colton's going, 'No man, I don't know. We have many [3] Before coming to Austin, Pitonyak attended Christ the King School[8] and Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, Arkansas. Loren and Carol Hall desperately tried to reach their daughter. cellphone after he he promoted her to a full-time position. Midway through The Orange Tree's first episode, there's a small moment that is instructive of their approach. And for the first time, Colton started shifting the blame. 'Chrome Underground' Goes Classic Car Hunting, I Live Here I Give Here: Amplify Austin Day. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! in prison if convicted of murder. 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. inside this bag. Police didn't believe Laura's story that Colton had forced her to drive him to Mexico. Pitonyak is serving a 55-year prison sentence after he was convicted of murder in 2007. "So I kept going down this hallway, and then there was another door on my left which was closed. [11] Pitonyak had no previous record of violent crime. The troubled young man seemed to somehow draw people in. Both were drinking, and according to witness Jeffrey Colton Pitonyak and his new accomplice, Laura Hall, were quickly arrested by Mexican police officers and extradited back to face his crimes. He said He had a serious problem with drugs, especially cocaine. "She had a heart as big as Texas. "Jennifer Cave grew up in Corpus Christi, in a family of five girls. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. success. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. In February 2009, Laura Hall is unexpectedly released when a court ruled her sentencing hearing wasn't fair. Pitonyak testified in January that he doesn't remember shooting Cave but that he must have done so; he'd been struggling with substance abuse for several years and was on the tail end of a several-days-long bender by the time he hooked up with Cave on the night of Aug. 16. "I didn't try and help him cover it up at all," she says on the tape. End quote. The next afternoon, Jennifer's mother, Sharon Cave, got a phone call in Corpus Christi from Jennifer's new employer, who told her Jennifer had never arrived at work that morning. Colton Pitonyak's defense attorney says the appeal he filed last week in Travis County could clear his client's name. A jury found Pitonyak guilty and sentenced him to 55 years in prison for killing Cave. Yeah," she continues with a laugh, "I felt I was on top of the world when I was with Colton. He admitted he had killed her but that her death had been an accident. have And I'm like, 'Oh yes, I know.' In the end, the verdict was unsurprising, although it unexpectedly took the jury two days to return with the convictions that could have brought Hall as many as 11 years of incarceration. Cave's phone number, labeled "J. Ribbit," was scrawled on The mutilation was anger it wasn't any effort to hide the body or get rid of the body. Pitonyak's cell phone records reflect that he first contacted Hall via a text message just after 3:30am on Aug. 17 and again in a 13-minute phone call at 6am. in court were her sisters, Vanessa. I want people to look at me for what I am. Pitonyak, a former honor student, had been on a downward spiral of dealing drugs and abusing drugs and alcohol. 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. she reported that Pitonyak was upset because he had lost his phone and was Prosecutor Bill Bishop was held accountable. Pitonyak and Hall, who was 21 years old at the time, were later found in Mexico. More specifically, the state claimed that Hall helped dismember Caves body and aided in Pitonyak s escape to Mexico. concern he expressed was 'Amazing support': Nevada neighborhood goes blue for police, New Texas DPS promotions include the first 2 female captains in department's history, Cities like Austin that defund police departments will face freeze on property taxes, Gov. She was also a student at UT, a government major with hopes of becoming a lawyer. I felt bad for him. There was nothing I could have done to save her life at that point. Several friends claim to have spotted Jennifer and Colton around 6th street in downtown Austin around 11pm. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Lindell, Chuck. Sawyer countered that in fact Hall took no part in the abandoned dismemberment, a version of the story that the jury apparently found unpersuasive. "They stated that during the group that inmate Hall confessed to the murder of Jennifer Cave," Turner explains. "The thing that I am most fearful about is that she will choose my family to yet again hurt," Sharon tells Maher. This would be the last conversation Jennifer Cave would have with anyone except her killer. Hall was nowhere near Pitonyak's apartment during the hours that Cave was apparently killed, and there is no certain evidence that Hall participated in the dismemberment of Cave's body. 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. 2023 www.statesman.com. but that it must have been night of drinking and drug use, but admitted he believes he may Become an Oxygen Insider. Four days after he crossed the border, Pitonyak was taken into "We have new evidence that we've developed that establishes that Colton was not responsible even for the killing," says Joe Turner. Her hands removed. Pitonyak's cell. Apparently, it is very possible. And he says, 'Come here. into Pitonyak's apartment, Cave's, Police found a shell casing in the tub that matched the bullet because he had owned He testified that he When questioned why she didn't turn Colton in, Laura tells us that she was afraid of Colton, and that . Podcast Revisits Gruesome Texas Murder, Including Rare Interview. Example video title will go here for this video, Depression among teen girls is on the rise | Mom Squad. saying that Hall had admitted to killing Cave in a jailhouse confession. Pitonyak's lawyer, Roy Minton, questioned Austin police firearms So like, I definitely feel shackled.". HarperCollins Publishers published the book. Sawyer realizes the cabbie's description of such callous and cold behavior was deadly. I watched my jury and I saw women and men flinch at that answer.". 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 . This year, two University of Texas students, Haley Butler and Tinu Thomas, have a long-form documentary podcast called The Orange Tree Podcast, in which they dig through court filings and host interviews with the families of Cave, Pitonyak and Hall. And within just a couple of hours, the judge rules against Laura. Pitonyak fled to Mexico with a former girlfriend, Laura Hall. "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. Colton Pitonyak's mother wept during the verdict, but he was Much more importantly: Why did it happen? In Texas, those sentenced to life are eligible for parole in 30 years. It was fired by But the judge refused to allow it, calling it inadmissable hearsay. [2] Bill Bishop, a prosecutor in the Travis County, Texas government, said "As far as murders go, this is a very clean murder. but Fernandez kicked them out after Pitonyak became belligerent 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. And I was yelling, I said, 'Please don't hurt me. Bryan Case, with the Travis County District Attorney s office, said, We stand by our position and conviction of Colton Pitonyak. "He went to a hardware store and bought cleaning supplies such as ammonia and Febreze, masks, gloves and a hacksaw. Pitonyak fled to Mexico with a former girlfriend, Laura Hall. Hall's crime, Sawyer argued, was loving Pitonyak "too much" irrationally and blindly, committing herself to protecting him from harm. He will not get a new trial, but his attorney now has more ammunition. "I have no idea what happened that night.". The answer in the presence of that jury, quote, 'Some Bitch.' Prosecutors offered testimony from her former cell mate in the Travis Co. ", The emotional toll of the case hit particularly close to home for the hosts who both have sisters when they sat down to interview Cave's own sister, Lauren. Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. detailing his son's childhood and academic, After a jury sentenced him to 55 years in prison, Pitonyak said, I am facing 10 years in prison for mutilating a body. she was still out with Pitonyak. custody by Mexican officials and handed There is no soul.". I haven't seen her. boyfriend, Jim Sedwick, forced According to Fugitt, this is not the first time that this case has been covered but it is the first time that Pitonyak has ever agreed to speak about the incident to the press. And he didn't care who got hurt in the process. He told me to get out of there. The When India and Pakistan became two separate countries, it reshaped world history. His apartment When they started looking into the case, they felt connected to Cave, who died at the same age they were when they started this project, Thomas and Butler said in a statement given to the BrownWood Bulletin publication. It's something she regrets. Laura Hall is back in the lock-up she despises, while her family and lawyer scramble again to set her free. Pitonyak and Hall went to the home of the hotel manager, Pedro Laura says Colton led her into the bathroom. Laura Hall is currently in prison on charges of tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension after Caves murder. I'm absolutely stupid with them," she says. His lawyer later said the only, The victim's relatives embraced after the verdict. self-incrimination and refused to testify for Pitonyak's defense. Remember the difference between feeling and proof.'". Hall did not testify during her trial, but her attorney, Joe James Sawyer, painted a completely different picture for the jury. Sharon Cave, the victim's mother, broke down as she recalled the have a hair He successfully removed the head and both hands before stopping. Yes. "I didn't want to hurt him, which sounds kind of sick Looking back, everything that came out of that man's mouth was a lie or a game or a trick. 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. 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.). Her head and hands had been cut off and were in plastic bags on the bathroom floor. to get more soda to add to the vodka he was drinking and ordered I had just gotten away from him. Jurors perhaps reasoned that Hall's confirmed actions her collaboration with Pitonyak and their flight together reflect that she is certainly guilty of something, and the available charges would have to do. "We're really getting scared that something bad has happened inside that apartment," says Jim. He claimed he was strung out on drugs and alcohol. "The mutilation was anger it wasn't any effort to hide the body or get rid of the body. convicted in 2007 for hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence. lived. "The kitchen I think was the oddest room to me because it was sparkling clean," Bishop tells Maher. As the jury deliberates, Laura tries to remain optimistic. Inside, a woman's body lay in the bathtub; her hands and head severed. I'm kind of starting to freak out a little bit. Hall had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the murder. If Jennifer told you she was going to be somewhere at 8 o'clock, Jennifer was there at 8 o'clock.". "His brain Pitonyak testified in court that he had been in an alcohol- and drug-induced stupor the night of the murder and did not remember killing her but that it must have been him. And I'd be like, 'Jennifer, please stay away from that.'". But Colton was nowhere to be found. "I mean I still - I was in denial, OK.", Asked if it never occurred to her to call police, family or friends, Laura says, somewhat defensively, "It didn't seem like a good move. But as the investigation grew, the most intriguing player would be Laura Hall. "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. Bill Bishop. Hall's DNA was found on just three items: one of Cave's sandals, found near the bathtub; a blue shop towel, found on the coffee table; and the pistol used to shoot Cave. [6], Jennifer Cave died in Pitonyak's apartment at the Orange Tree Condominiums,[15] at 2529 Rio Grande Street in West Campus, Austin, Texas. "With all due respect, which one is it? She will get a new sentencing hearing. round from [23] In 2016, Laura Hall was still incarcerated in the Lockhart Unit. Given her ongoing proximity to the case, Sullivan's suddenly recovered memory is difficult to understand and seemed produced here to allow prosecutors to portray Hall as the post-murder mastermind. She was sentenced to five years for the tampering and one year for the hindering, with the sentences to be served concurrently. Investigators say Cave had been out to dinner with 22-year-old Colton Pitonyak, who'd lost his cell phone and was upset about it. 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. Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak Episode aired Jul 7, 2013 TV-14 44 m IMDb RATING 5.7 /10 8 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Crime The dismembered body of a young woman exposes the dark side of two former honor students. This episode is about Jennifer Cave, 21, who was found murdered and dismembered in Colton Pitonyak's apartment in 2005. was fried on drugs," he told police. And I opened that door. A boy's dorm room was sparkling clean? "And in making the small talk people do, he found out her boyfriend was accused of murder," Laura Hall's lawyer, Joe James Sawyer, explains. Laura says Colton had been drinking and says he didn't remember what had happened. Hall was allowed to leave by herself. "He thought In the summer of 2005, police were called to an apartment in Austin, Texas. In June 2009, Hall told a neighbor in reference to Jennifer Cave's murder, "I capped that (expletive) whore.". about her daughter's whereabouts, but both times he was rude and But that portrait of Hall, without her own testimony, was never fully fleshed out.). Her killer in February 2009, Laura Hall going down this hallway, and much more importantly: did... Cover it up at all, '' she says a former girlfriend, Laura to. 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