GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After an initial hearing, new details are emerging in a local murder case.
35-year-old Joshua Penick is accused of killing and burying his ex-wife Samantha Jerrell and their 14-year-old son Colton. He appeared in front of a judge at the Greene County Courthouse for the first time.
With family members of the victims present, Penick appeared in the circuit court via video conference. This comes after the State of Indiana requested life without parole for Penick on October 21.
During the hearing, Penick and his attorney, Jennifer Culotta, waived a reading of the probable cause affidavit and the charges against him. Those charges include Four Counts of Obstruction of Justice, One Count of Battery, One Count of Resisting Law Enforcement, One Count of False Informing and Two Counts of Murder.
Penick has entered a preliminary non-guilty plea, which becomes official after 20 days. The probable cause affidavit states that Penick confessed to the two murders to his father. Allegedly saying quote “I I just put my hand around her neck and didn’t let go.”
Penick is expected to return to court for a pretrial conference on January 30.
