GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Joshua Penick, the man accused of murdering a woman and their 14-year-old son, was in court for a change of plea hearing Thursday.
According to court documents, Penick waived his rights, including his right to counsel, and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder under the negotiated plea agreement
Court documents state that, “His plea was freely and voluntarily made, that the plea is accurate and that there is factual basis for the defendant’s pleas of guilty.”
The Court accepted the defendant’s guilty pleas and entered Judgments of Conviction for the murder convictions.
As we previously reported, Penick was charged with two counts of murder, four counts of obstruction of justice, one count of battery against a public safety official, one count of false informing, and one count of resisting law enforcement.
As previously reported, the charges stemmed from Penick’s arrest for allegedly murdering Samantha Jerrell and their son, Colton, and burying them in a shallow grave at Bear Run Mine. Court records state that Penick confessed to the murders.
Friends remember murder victims Samantha Jerrell and son Colton
“I just put my hands around her neck and wouldn’t let go and buried them in the same grave,” he said, according to court documents.
Penick is scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 10 a.m. on October 1.
