SULLIVAN CO.— The Sullivan County Coroner has announced it will take around two weeks to determine the cause of death for Samantha Jerrell, 36, and her 14-year-old son, Colton, whose bodies were discovered last in a shallow grave at Bear Run Coal Mine on Thursday, October 17. The deaths are being investigated as homicides.
Coroner Joe Coffman has indicated that a complete forensic autopsy was conducted at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes. He will release further details when he receives the full report from the forensic pathologist.
Samantha and Colton’s funeral service was held on Friday, October 25, at Welch & Cornett Funeral Home in Linton.
Joshua Penick, 35, is accused of killing Samantha and Colton.
The investigation began after Samantha Jerrell requested a well-being check on Tuesday, October 15. She failed to report to work, raising concerns among her coworkers, who suggested she might be with Penick. This prompted police to investigate.
Upon examining Penick’s background, officers discovered a history of domestic violence between him and Jerrell. Furthermore, Penick was previously involved in an investigation related to sex crimes against a child earlier this year. Despite efforts to contact him, police were initially unable to locate Penick. A phone ping suggested a possible location, but that search proved unsuccessful.
Penick’s father later revealed that his son had called him from Georgia, admitting the crimes, saying the bodies were in Bear Run Mine, leading police to search the area. With the assistance of a cadaver dog, the bodies were found buried in shallow graves.
Penick has been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of murder, four counts of obstruction of justice, resisting law enforcement, battery against a police officer, and false informing. Reports indicate that he resisted arrest when being taken to jail, reportedly kicking and grabbing at officers.
Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod D. Holtsclaw filed a motion in Greene County Circuit Court on Monday, October 21, to seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Penick appeared for an initial hearing on Tuesday, October 22. A plea of not guilty has been entered on Penick’s behalf. He will also undergo a competency evaluation.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for January 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., and his jury trial is scheduled for April 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Greene County Circuit Court.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
