Brooklyn Marine sergeant & wife tortured, slain in Calif.; 4 of his men are arrested

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Daily News

A Brooklyn-raised Marine sergeant and his new bride were tortured and killed execution-style in their California home - allegedly by four other Marines under his command.

Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak, who was raised in Bensonhurst, and his wife, Quiana, were found bound and gagged in the ransacked house, each shot in the head.

Pietrzak was the suspects' sergeant at Camp Pendleton, Quiana's mother said Wednesday.

"They're monsters," Faye Jenkins told the Daily News. "They're monsters."

Pietrzak's mother, Henryka Pietrzak-Varga, said she had prepared herself "for the possibility that my son could die in Iraq."

"But to die like this, in their own home?" she told The News. "They were good kids. They didn't deserve to die like this."


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/05/2008-11-05_brooklyn_marine_sergeant__wife_tortured_-2.html

---

Brooklyn Marine Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak and his wife, Quiana, seen in August wedding photo, were found tortured and slain Oct. 15 in their home near San Diego.

Sad. You have to wonder if these Marines had come back from Iraq or Afghanistan. Also did they have a criminal record that was excused to enlist them.

[Taverner]

1. Reminds me of In the Valley of Elah

[ogneopasno]

2. How awful, how sad. What a beautiful couple. May they rest in peace.

[babylonsister]

3. Just horrific. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Those poor kids :^( My prayers go out to the family.

[janet118]

5. The horror . . . n/t

[JDwho]

6. God bless their families.

I agree that they seem to be monsters. But, did the war create them??? My guess is yes.

[speedoo]

7. Damn. He's from my neighborhood.

What a tragedy.

[bertman]

8. One mother asked, "Can't the Marines screen out people like this. Didn't they know they had

murderers under their roof?"

Mom, they're Marines. They're trained to kill. It's what they do.

The sad fact is there are some really fucked up people everywhere. This is a very tragic thing. Very sad.

[olddad56]

36. I'm wondering if this he was their sargent in Iraq. This could be a fragging.

[olddad56]

38. Blame Bush, he sent them all to hell in Iraq.

[bertman]

44. This would be the dumbest fragging I ever heard of, olddad. Meaning that they didn't just

kill him and his wife, they also robbed them. Which wouldn't be so stupid if they were trying to make it look like some "cult members" or somebody did it, except they kept the goodies and got caught with them. Or maybe there was just one really stupid one in the bunch.

There ARE some very stupid marines right in their with the good ones.

[saigon68]

50. They ain't screening shit

Go watch The movie Full Metal Jacket

The more things change---The more they remain the same

[Gamey]

9. One of the times I wish there was something worse than hell

waiting for these assholes.

[drgonzosghost]

26. 24/7 90210 Marathon?

[shadowknows69]

10. Why do I have a really bad feeling this was a hate crime

Was this post election day?

[clspector]

12. It happened on October 15th

not election related. But obviously, hate was involved.

[brentspeak]

32. If it was a racially-motivated crime, it would be a complex motive

As the victims were a white man and his black wife, while all four suspects are black:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_marines06.3f3fa02.html

[shadowknows69]

33. Did not catch that brent thanks.

I just met my fair share of guys in the military that would serve well as KKK poster boys so I guess my mind jumped there first.

[BreweryYardRat]

41. That doesn't necessarily rule out a hate crime.

People of all skin colors can be racist.

We'll need more details before we can come to any conclusions. But President Obama needs to make cleaning up the military one of his first priorities once he's inaugurated.

[dysfunctional press]

53. not all that complex...

white man marries pretty black girl- shunned black men get revenge. (although it probably sounds more familiar if you reverse the blacks and whites)

[curse of greyface]

65. Nothing complex. If the perps were racist. They were racist.

The fact they raped and tortured indicates alot of hate. I hope they rot for a long time.

[GetTheRightVote]

68. I have met black people who hate white people and who do not like to see black with white

I know because I have dated plenty of black individuals and the look of hate that comes your way at times can be pretty darn scary. They chill you to the bone.

:kick:

[SnowCritter]

11. Marines may be trained to kill,

but not each other. And they certainly aren't trained to kill in the manner described.

No, this is something the perpetrators brought with them when they joined the Corps.

Marines in general have a deep and abiding espirit de corps. It's a feeling of brotherhood that never goes away - once a Marine, always a Marine.

[drgonzosghost]

14. Words fail me.....

As a Veteran Marine, I can't even begin to wrap my head around this. They did this to one of our own. They did this to a brother.

Now they join the list of "Ex Marines" like Lee Harvey Oswald*, Oliver North, and Clayton Lonetree.

They are in for a treat when they get into that military jail....


*I know he didn't kill Kennedy, I am referring to his turn to the Soviet dark side that made him the perfect patsy.

[onager]

56. I agree they are

Translation for those of you who did not serve in the Secular-Jesuits-of-American-Foreign-Policy, i.e., the U.S. Marine Corps:

"There are no ex-Marines. There are former Marines and dead Marines, but no ex-Marines."

We make an exception occasionally, as drgonzosghost noted. I could add a few more to his list, such as Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

Long as I'm here--people are often baffled by our references to "Chesty" and think we are talking about a famous stripper or something.

That is a reference to the "Marine's Marine," Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller Jr., who won 5 Navy Crosses (the second-highest award for bravery, right under the Congressional Medal of Honor.)

One Chesty anecdote, particularly apt in our own time of Fundie Insanity: when Chesty became the Commanding General of Camp Pendleton, he authorized the sale of beer to enlisted men. This outraged some nutty preacher in San Diego, who wrote an LTTE and actually challenged Chesty, an Agent Of Satan, to a DUEL! Gen. Puller responded with his own LTTE: "I accept. As you issued the challenge, it is my prerogative to choose the weapon. I choose sawed-off shotguns at 10 paces." The preacher was never heard from again.

Chesty's son ran for Congress as a Democrat from Virginia. He was horribly wounded by a land mine in Vietnam, losing both his legs, and committed suicide a few years ago.

For the record, I did a tour as a Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego. I spent the rest of my time in the Air Wing, which makes me almost as useless as tits on a bull. Or a sailor. :rofl:

Semper Fi!

:hi:

[Lost4words]

66. like the Marine that tossed the puppy off the cliff?

David Motari I think is the scums name.

[Maat]

13. May they rest in peace.

What a tragedy!

[Terran]

15. WTF was their motive??

Surely not because they were an interracial couple! I don't see that driving four men with good military careers to commit premeditated murder.

[GinaMaria]

16. from the article

Investigators said the motive for murder was "financial gain." Neither mother believes that.



More:
Detectives also did not divulge what the accused Marines were looking for, but the suspects were tied to the crime by items found in their homes and on the military base.



Is it possible they returned from their tour of duty with some sort of treasured or valuable item?

[Terran]

17. I missed that. It hardly seems likely...

unless, as you say, he brought back something valuable with him and they knew about it. Still, the crime seems all out of proportion.

[GinaMaria]

22. I think the home was 'ransacked'

the couple was tortured (sometimes used to get someone to disclose info :shrug:). Really, I'm just speculating based on the little bit of information in the article. the info is so sketchy that it doesn't make much sense. seems to me there would have to be a strong motive to make this an appealing option to Four marines.

[pitohui]

39. this is how robberies are going down these days, nothing to do w. iraq IMHO

we have gangs going in and executing families here in new orleans, the motive is money and it happens in cases where there is believed to be cash around

example -- 4 people in a bar a few days ago, two of them brothers in their 70s, were killed in broad daylight by a gang of 6 men who knew it was "check cashing" day and that there would be cash on hand

several examples of asian families being targeted, they are believed to use cash rather than banks

several examples of illegal immigrant trailers being targeted, they are paid in cash

my guess is that the two men who worked under the sargeant became aware that he was repairing and furnishing the new house, and they figured he would be a good target, with lots of new items that could be quickly re-sold -- it's clear it WAS a robbery, they found some of the stolen property in the possession of the accused

you have to be careful these days not to attract envious eyes

it doesn't even have to be all THAT valuable, you would think an illegal immigrant's pay would not be worth killing for, but some of them have definitely been killed for their cash post-katrina

these kind of crimes may have started in new orleans but once the idea catches fire among the bad guys, you get your copycats and pretty soon this stuff is going to be happening in lots of places

years ago a friend of mine was robbed and left for dead over three hundred dollars, i would not start to imagine that this obscene and nasty murder means that the soldier or his wife had iraqi antiquities in their home or anything like that, you'd be surprised how little money people will kill for

[GinaMaria]

46. didn't the alleged robbers report to him?

They weren't strangers. Seems to me it would be more difficult to do this to someone you know, unless the stakes were somehow higher, but I will agree with you that these are desperate times. Recovery will likely take some time. Desperate people will engage in behavior they never thought they were capable of. :-( Really sad news.

[pitohui]

47. well yeah that's how they knew about the new house and new "stuff" to steal, isn't it?

i just don't see it as anything deeper than that, unless there is a hate crime/jealousy motive (the new wife was VERY beautiful per the photo) -- but i'm not sure i see four guys going along with this except for monetary gain

if it was one guy that did this, i could put more credence in a jealousy or crime of passion or whatever

but FOUR guys? someone saying they know where there's a lot of cash, and talking big to his friends and getting them stirred up too -- that's what it looks like from here

i'm always open to learning more, of course, but right now i only have this article to go by and it says robbery and items recovered...


an enlistment "bonus" is mentioned, it is possible that they didn't believe that the bonus had already been spent on the new flooring and other repairs to the house...hence the torture

[dysfunctional press]

54. and it will get worse, right along with the economy.

people may want to think about getting their second amendment rights in better shape by exercising them a little.

[redqueen]

60. Do those robbers also torture and rape their victims? (nt)

[LynnTheDem]

18. "Tortured"? Or just "harsh interrogation techniques"?

Oh yeah, it's gonna get far far worse.

[drgonzosghost]

19. That was in pretty poor taste.

[Tempest]

21. It was, but...

He was making a point.

And you missed it.

[drgonzosghost]

25. Nope....

No I think YOU are missing the point the same way he was.

1.) Harsh interrogation techniques are the perverse creation of our thankfully soon to be gone fascist junta. We all know, all of us, that this new policy was straight up evil. So based on that, what was the point of making a crack about it in THIS case? These guys were in the motor pool according to the story, and therefore never dealt with intel.

2.) Maybe it's just me being too sensitive because I was, am, and always will be a jarhead but seriously....linking this tragedy to a Bush policy is disrespectful on so many levels to me. It's like walking up to a puddle of puke, taking a shit in it, and laughingly proclaiming to the world "and you thought it stunk BEFORE!"

Just my two cents

[melody]

28. The OP was making a bitterly ironic comment that was about government insensitivity

And I'm the daughter and niece of Marines (my uncle died during WWII).

It was a very telling point and not insensitive in the least.

[drgonzosghost]

29. Melody, I am just emotional about this one....

I read this story and took in the whole context, and yeah, the new policies came to mind. I just thought it was in poor taste to pretty much say "A HA! We told you so!" on a forum full of people who already know and agree. Four Marines tortured one their own and his beautiful wife in front of each other. Think about how horrific, how indescribably horrific that must have been. The "Bush sucks ass" pile is big and putrid enough without adding an I told you so to THIS story.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

[NashVegas]

42. Welcome to DU

I feel for ya, but think you're going to need a tougher skin on this one. DUers have been un-fond of the misuse of our military for some time. The sarcasm won't go away overnight.

[Occulus]

58. But- before you get twisted up over your second point...

It really IS Bush policies that allowed this, in some respect. This sounds very much gang-related, and we all know our military in general has been scraping the bottom of the barrel lately to sign up new recruits (and let me make the point here, while I'm at it, that "jail or military service" should not ever be an option). Earlier, you mentioned the very deep and abiding brotherhood of the Corps, but I think I should point out that there's an element of that in gangs as well.

The only way my speculation bears out is if they were relatively new to the Corps. This just doesn't sound like a random killing to me, and it's not like any fragging I've ever heard of, either. Single shot to the head, after ransacking their home? And they reported to him? When we know people have been accepted into ranks who really should have never, ever been there in the first place?

Sounds to me like misplaced loyalties. I'm thinking we'll find out that these four were/are involved in one gang or another.

[yardwork]

23. Hiding from the facts is not going to help us get out of this mess.

The fact is that the United States has been going down a very bad road for the past eight years and things like this are the inevitable result of a culture of war, torture, and murder. That does not excuse the individual criminals, but the point is valid.

[LynnTheDem]

43. I agree. George W. bUsh's entire regime is in poor taste.

As a military spouse, let me tell you; this isn't the first time and it won't be the last time.

Many of our troops are coming home so fucked in the head they are barely functioning humans.

I blame George W. bUsh and his regime.

[kristopher]

20. Is there any indication that Pietrzak led the 4 overseas an any time?

Aside from the barbarity of the crime, it isn't reasonable to ascribe this to robbery. I don't think it is racially motivated either, there are far too many mixed couples in today's military for this couple to be singled out on that basis.

I'll be surprised if the 5 men don't have a history in combat.

[bettyellen]

63. um there are also "too many gays or blacks around then, to be victims of hate crimes

silly theory you have there. ridiculous negation of the entire concept of hate crimes.

[chatnoir]

24. Those poor ppl :(

Two of these monsters worked under him it says in this article:

Jan Pietrzak served in Iraq from July 2005 to February 2006, and the couple had just married in August, moving into their new home about four months ago.

Riverside County sheriff's homicide investigators said both victims were bound, gagged and shot at least twice in the head.

Investigators believe the Pietrzaks were killed during a robbery by the four men.

Lance Cpl. Emrys John, 18; Lance Cpl. Tyrone Miller, 20; and Pvt. Kevin Cox, 20, all live on Camp Pendleton and were being held in the brig there until Wednesday when they were released to the custody of Riverside County investigators, sheriff's homicide Sgt. Brandon Ford said.

The three were brought back to Riverside County and booked at Southwest Detention Center just before 1 p.m., Ford said.

The fourth man, Lance Cpl. Kesaun Sykes, 21, lives in the Fallbrook area and was arrested by homicide investigators and booked at Southwest Detention Center on Sunday.

All four men are being held without the possibility of bail, jail records state.

Sykes was in court at Southwest Justice Center on Wednesday afternoon, but his arraignment was postponed until Thursday, court records state.

Miller and John worked directly for Jan Pietrzak as airframe mechanics, authorities have said.

All four men are charged with two counts of murder, each with special-circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders, committing the crime during a robbery, and rape by instrument, according to Riverside County Superior Court records.

Homicide investigators have previously said that Jenkins-Pietrzak was sexually abused during the crime.

More details at http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/11/05/news/californian/riverside/z79ebe59196c4d445882574f80071dcbc.txt

Defendants, from left, Kevin Darnell Cox, Emrys Justin John, Tyrone Miller and Kesaun K. Sykes.

[bananas]

40. "rape by instrument"

"Jenkins-Pietrzak was sexually abused during the crime"

[chatnoir]

51. ??

I can't even imagine what that could mean...

That poor couple... :(

[Kind of Blue]

52. I have no words to describe my sadness. And the last one lived

in my town. Why and how could two beautiful human beings become targets of such brutality? There are just no words.

[chatnoir]

64. No words for how heavy my heart is for this couple.

And I can't believe it's about money if torture and rape were involved. :(

[benld74]

27. Prayers sent

[zonmoy]

30. I wonder if the one killed hadn't seen some war crimes being committed

or took part in some and then threatened to expose them thus getting this assassination ordered.

[thereismore]

31. They are monsters - made in Iraq? nt

[Miss Chybil]

34. WTF?

What is wrong with people? Why do people have to suffer such atrocities? I can't even imagine. I'm a veteran. I cannot even imagine!!! I'm outraged. Purely, outraged.

[grace0418]

35. Oh, god, that is nauseating. Such a beautiful young couple.

Why would they do such a thing? What could be the possible gain?

[roguevalley]

37. how horrendous, that poor family and those two kids. when will this

shit ever end?

[BlueIris]

45. No words. Worst news story I've read all year. nt

[Bryn]

48. Oh, No that's terrible

:cry:

[goodgd_yall]

49. Jesus, how horrible!

My condolences to their families. So sad.

[Mz Pip]

55. I'm opposed to the death penalty

but in this case I will make an exception. No one deserves a death like these two young people suffered.

[okieinpain]

57. man I'm speechless, they've confessed to raping her also

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/11/06/2008-11-06_confession_in_torture_slay_of_brooklynra-2.html

I'm pretty sure they were jealous that a white guy had a black wife, and decided he didn't deserve it.

[redqueen]

59. Doesn't that kind of kill the idea that the motive was robbery?

Do lots of robbers also rape their victims?

Something stinks here. I bet robbers don't usually torture, either.

[okieinpain]

61. yeah this was a hate crime, they hated that he had a black wife.

they wanted to hurt him in the worst way possible.

[panAmerican]

62. My thoughts exactly.

How sad and shameful for this young, hopeful couple to go out like this.

[GetTheRightVote]

67. Why would anyone to harm to people in their own home, that is sick

really sick.

:kick:

[Joe Bacon]

69. This is just plain depraved

OH my heart just goes out to the victims families. :cry: