Documents: Greene County man charged in double murder

GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Greene County man killed a woman and their 14-year-old son and then buried their bodies in a shallow grave at the Bear Creek Mine, according to court documents.

Greene County deputies found Samantha Jerrell and her son Colton after 35-year-old Joshua Penick gave directions to the location to his father who later gave them to investigators, a probable cause affidavit states.

Deputies began searching for Jerrell and Colton over the weekend after they did not show up to school and work and stopped communicating with family and friends. Witnesses said Penick had previously been violent with the family.

Penick wrote a letter and left it with family members that said in part, “Dad’s sorry I don’t know what is wrong with me and you all deserve better, I leave you three with my reminder life material items, any money I owe to you, and everything belongs to you. … Let go it’s okay now Breathe live love laugh prosper be at peach, numb Josh.”

He also spoke with his father by phone and said, “(expletive) went south, and I can’t talk about it on the phone.”

Cadaver dogs found the bodies at the mine on Thursday. Penick was located in Warrick County and arrested.

He is charged with murder, obstruction of justice, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent causing death.

Penick is also currently awaiting trial for previous charges of possession of marijuana, and six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor after allegedly having a relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

According to court records, Penick confessed to the murders.

“I just put my hands around her neck and wouldn’t let go and buried them in the same grave,” he said.

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