Advertisement Jordan Brown, allegedly a killer at 11, released from custody Now 18, he's appealing juvenile verdict in death of father's pregnant fiancee Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The teenager who was accused of killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child when he was 11-years-old has been released from juvenile custody.Family members of Jordan Brown, now 18, and the victim confirmed he was released."We are not happy about it. This is more serious than people think," said Jennifer Kraner, the sister of victim Kenzie Houk.VIDEO: Watch Bob Hazen's reportJordan Brown was found delinquent -- the juvenile court equivalent of guilty -- for the February 2009 shooting of Houk, his father's fiancee, in the family's home in rural Wampum, Lawrence County. Brown denies it and has appealed the verdict.Brown was released Monday after a juvenile court hearing that was closed to the public but open to some of the victim's relatives and Brown's family."We felt he was going to get out because over the last year he has been going to school, going home for the weekends and basically out," Kraner said."I cannot comment on the ruling directly because it is a juvenile proceeding. It would be unethical of me to do so. People who were inside leaked the ruling," said Dennis Elisco, Brown's attorney. "But I will tell you that while I'm not allowed to comment, I will say it was favorable for my client."Several witnesses were reportedly called to testify during the hearing, and Elisco said prosecutors agreed with the decision. Because he was convicted in juvenile court, Brown automatically would have been released when he turned 21 in a little over two years. Pat Tomassey, an attorney not involved in Brown's case but who has handled many in the juvenile system, said Tuesday a judge can decide to free an offender earlier, if there are signs of rehabilitation. "He or she could be released any time before that, maybe if the child was 15 when it occurred and the child is now 19, and the judge thinks everything is alright with this child, then he or she is released," Thomassey said. Brown's father, Christopher, told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 his son finished all of the juvenile treatment plans with no problems, graduated from high school with a 3.9 grade point average, and hopes to move on with a normal life. He maintains his son was wrongly accused of the murders.Houk, 26, was more than eight months pregnant and asleep when she was shot in her back of her head with a shotgun and killed, police said.Brown's release is not directly related to an appeal currently before a panel of Superior Court judges. Lawyers argued in front of the panel last month that Brown should be acquitted.Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App