Fairfax, OH – A 14-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the murder of Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny, 64, in her home. The boy entered a plea deal that included charges of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and strangulation.
On February 2, Tenpenny was alone in her home on Germania Street when the boy attacked, causing blunt-force trauma before strangling her to death. The victim put up a fight, resulting in her acquiring hair from the attacker and leaving his DNA under her fingernails.
Investigators found scratches on the boy’s face and blood throughout the house. Following the murder, he posted on social media, stating, “This one was a fighter.”
The boy had planned the crime for months, researching online. He asked questions about how to choose a victim and how to handle a police interrogation.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Agent David Ward remarked on the chilling nature of the crime given the boy’s age. He mentioned that the investigative team had seen DNA mistakes that ultimately aided in identifying the assailant.
As part of the plea deal, the boy will be held at the Ohio Department of Youth Services until he turns 21. Tenpenny is remembered as a kind individual who touched the lives of those around her.
