A Lyons man, who pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of his ex-wife and teenage son, whose bodies were discovered last fall in a shallow grave in Sullivan County, was sentenced Monday to 120 years in prison.

Joshua Alan Penick, 35 at the time of his arrest in 2024, entered guilty pleas to both murder charges during a change of plea hearing on July 23.

Penick appeared in Greene Circuit Court Monday and was sentenced to 60 years on each count of murder to be served consecutively for a total of 120 years, according to court documents.

As part of the plea agreement, all other charges against him — including obstruction of justice, battery against a public safety official, false informing, and resisting law enforcement — have been dismissed.

Penick was originally arrested on Oct. 17, 2024, by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Detective David Elmore during a joint investigation with Detective Sgt. Shawn Cullison into the disappearance of Samantha Jerrell and their 14-year-old son. The two were reported missing after failing to return home or report to work or school.

According to court documents, Jerrell’s vehicle was located abandoned in a wooded area not far from her Lyons residence. Authorities later learned that Penick had allegedly made a troubling phone call to his father, during which he reportedly said, “they’re not coming back.” Investigators say Penick eventually provided directions that led law enforcement and cadaver dogs to the location of the victims’ remains near a guardrail at Bear Run Mine in Sullivan County.

Penick’s father later told detectives that his son had confessed to killing both victims and burying them in a shallow grave.