Indiana Father Sentenced to 120 Years for Killing Ex-Wife and Teen Son, Burying Them in Shallow Graves Near Coal Mine
GREENE COUNTY, Indiana — A man who strangled his ex-wife and teenage son, then buried their bodies in shallow graves near a southern Indiana coal mine, has been sentenced to more than 120 years in prison, according to court documents and prosecutors.
Sentenced for the Murders of His Family
Joshua Penick, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the killings of his ex-wife, Samantha Lynn Jerrell, 36, and their 14-year-old son, Colton Alan.
Prosecutors said Penick killed both victims in October 2024 and buried them near Bear Run Mine in Sullivan County, about 100 miles southwest of Indianapolis. He was sentenced to two consecutive 60-year terms by Greene Circuit Court Judge Erik C. Allen, who described the murders as deliberate, cruel, and prolonged.
“I Just Put My Hands Around Her Neck”
During his arrest, Penick confessed to the killings, reportedly telling police, “I just put my hands around her neck and wouldn’t let go and buried them in the same grave.”
Investigators said friends and family became concerned after Samantha and Colton failed to show up for work and school on October 13, 2024. When they could not be reached for days, police launched a search that ended with cadaver dogs locating two shallow graves near the mine on October 17.
Both victims had been manually strangled, according to the autopsy results cited by local news outlet WTWO.
“S— Went South” — The Killer’s Chilling Confession
After the murders, Penick reportedly called his father and admitted something terrible had happened.
“S— went south, and I can’t talk about it on the phone,” he said, according to police records.
Officers later found a handwritten letter Penick left for family members in which he apologized but offered no clear explanation for the killings.
“Sorry I don’t know what is wrong with me and you all deserve better,” the note read. “Let go, it’s okay now. Breathe, live, love, laugh, prosper.”
Court documents also revealed that Penick had previously acted violently toward his ex-wife and son, with several witnesses describing escalating aggression in the months leading up to the murders.
Judge: “He Had Time to Stop”
In his written sentencing order, Judge Allen emphasized the deliberate nature of the killings and the emotional cruelty involved.
“The defendant killed his ex-wife and his own child, and he made great effort to conceal his actions,” the judge wrote. “The time it took to strangle the life out of his 14-year-old son gave him time to reflect and stop before killing him.”
Allen added that Penick later strangled Samantha, giving him another moment to reconsider but choosing not to.
The judge concluded, “This was not impulsive. It was calculated.”
Discovery and Legal Outcome
Authorities said the discovery of the bodies near Bear Run Mine was one of the largest crime scene operations in recent Greene County history. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Indiana State Police and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, assisted in the recovery.
Penick’s guilty plea led prosecutors to drop additional charges, including obstruction of justice, resisting law enforcement, and battery against a public safety official.
He will receive 348 days of credit for time served, but with the sentences running consecutively, he is not expected to ever be released.
The tragic case has deeply shaken the Greene County community and renewed focus on domestic violence prevention and mental health support in rural Indiana. For continuing coverage of Midwest crime and justice updates, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.