A 35-year-old Lyons man is behind bars on several charges—including two counts of murder—in an investigation involving the death of his ex-wife and her son. 

Joshua Alan Penick was arrested Oct. 17 by Greene County Sheriff’s Department (GCDS) Det. David Elmore. According to a probable cause filed Oct. 18 in Greene Circuit Court, he is being charged with two Level 1 Felony counts of murder for the deaths of his ex-wife, Samantha Jerrell, and her 14-year-old son. He’s also being charged with four counts of obstruction of justice, battery against a public safety official, false informing, and resisting law enforcement.

On Oct. 16, Det. Elmore began assisting Det. Sgt. Shawn Cullison of the GCSD in a missing persons investigation involving Jerrell and her son. A welfare check, according to the probable cause affidavit, had been requested Oct. 15 through the White River Valley School Police Department. The requesting party reported she saw a post on Jerrell’s Facebook page on Oct. 12 referencing a trip to French Lick but stated Jerrell’s phone had been off since 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The reporting party told police Jerrell’s Life 360 App was turned off. Greene County Dispatch received a call from one of Jerrell’s co-workers as she had not shown up for work. The co-worker expressed concern as it was out of character for her to miss work. 

GCSD Deputies attempted to make contact with Jerrell at her Lyons residence at approximately 9:21 a.m. on Oct. 15, according to the probable cause affidavit. No one answered the door and no vehicles were present. Jerrell’s vehicle was later located approximately 5,225 feet from her home in a wooded area. 

Det. Elmore contacted Penick’s father, who according to the probable cause affidavit, was traveling from Georgia to Greene County after receiving a troubling call from his son. Penick allegedly told his father, “shit went south, and I can’t talk about it on the phone.” Penick’s father told authorities once he had his son in his vehicle, he would alert officers and pull over. When he alerted police, according to the probable cause affidavit, Penick jumped out of the truck. He allegedly told his father, “they’re not coming back.” 

According to the probable cause, the elder Penick was advised by his son that the victims would be found at Bear Run Mine in Sullivan County. It was later confirmed that the younger Penick provided directions on a piece of paper, detailing where Jerrell and her son were located. 

Authorities attempted to locate Jerrell and her son at Bear Run Mine but were unsuccessful in their initial attempt. However, on Oct. 17, a team of law enforcement officers as well as a team of cadaver dogs and their handlers began another search. One of the dogs had a positive alert on an area in Bear Run, which according to the probable cause affidavit, led officers to a shallow grave where Jerrell and her son were located. The victims were located close to a guardrail described in Penick’s directions. 

On Oct. 18, Det. Sgt. Cullison conducted an interview with Penick’s father. According to the probable cause affidavit, he told officers Penick admitted to killing both victims and burying in the shallow grave. 

Penick is facing two Level 1 Felony charges of murder, four Level 6 Felony charges of obstruction of justice, a Level 6 Felony charge of battery against a public safety official, a Class A Misdemeanor charge of false informing, and a Class A Misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement. He’s being held without bond in the Greene County Jail.