GREENE CO. – Joshua Penick, the man accused of murdering Samantha Jerrell and their 14-year-old son, Colton, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder during a change of plea hearing on Thursday.
According to court documents, Penick waived his rights, including his right to counsel, and entered guilty pleas under a negotiated plea agreement. The court affirmed that “His plea was freely and voluntarily made, that the plea is accurate and that there is a factual basis for the defendant’s pleas of guilty.” Following this, the Court accepted his guilty pleas and entered Judgments of Conviction for the murder charges.
Penick was initially 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. These charges stemmed from his arrest for allegedly murdering Samantha Jerrell and Colton, and burying their bodies in a shallow grave at Bear Run Mine.
Court records indicate that Penick had previously confessed to the murders. As stated in court documents, Penick reportedly said, “I just put my hands around her neck and wouldn’t let go and buried them in the same grave.”
Friends and family have remembered Samantha Jerrell and her son Colton, expressing profound grief over their loss.
Joshua Penick is now scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 10 a.m. on October 1.
