Chad Holden Jennings: Man gets life in prison for fatally beating his 3-year-old son and burning his body
SEMINOLE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA: An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to life in prison for savagely beating his three-year-old son to death and then burning the young child's body in a makeshift burn pit.
On Friday, February 2, Seminole County Judge Timothy L Olsen ordered Chad Holden Jennings, 34, to serve a sentence of life in a state correctional facility without the possibility of parole for the 2022 slaying of young Caleb Jennings.
Chad Holden Jennings pleaded guilty to several charges last year
Jennings, in September of last year, pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder, child abuse, conspiracy, and desecration of a human corpse in connection with his son’s death. Olsen also sentenced Jennings to an additional 10 years on the conspiracy charge and seven years on the desecration charge.
Jennings’ then-live-in girlfriend, Katherine Penner, pleaded guilty to charges of child abuse and desecration of a corpse. She was subsequently sentenced to 37 years in prison.
When were the authorities informed about the incident?
On Tuesday, July 27, 2022, the Seminole Police Department received a tip about the possible murder of a toddler at a secluded location off Old Highway 99 South at approximately 11 pm. Within hours of the tipster’s call, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for a property in the 100 block of Old Highway 99 South in Seminole County, Oklahoma.
Officers discovered the burned remains of a toddler upon arriving at the scene which was later identified as Caleb. Detectives investigating the circumstances of the child’s death were led to a home in the 1300 block of Timmons where Jennings and Penner both lived. Police referred to the residence as “a crime scene.”
Chad Holden Jennings’ cousin testified during the hearing
During a preliminary hearing Jennings’ cousin testified that Jennings himself confessed to him that he had killed Caleb, Oklahoma City NBC-affiliate KFOR reported. According to the report, Jennings told his cousin that Penner had grown increasingly frustrated with Caleb and ordered Jenner to “deal with him.”
Jennings then took the boy into the bathroom where he “whooped Caleb two times” and ultimately “caused Caleb to go limp” and die. After briefly attempting to revive the child, neither Jennings nor Penner attempted to call for help, the outlet reported. Instead, they reportedly wrapped Caleb’s body in a blanket and stuffed him in the closet for several days before deciding to burn the remains.
Chad Holden Jennings apologized for killing his son
During his plea hearing, Jennings apologized for killing his son. “I always wanted to be a good father, but I failed. I will always love my son. I did not want to hurt him, but I know my choices caused his death and I will live with that for the rest of my life,” he said, as per Oklahoma City NBC-affiliate KOCO. To my family, I’m so sorry. I not only failed him, but I failed you too,” he added.
Chad Holden Jennings had previous criminal records
According to Oklahoma court records, Jennings previously had several run-ins with law enforcement. In 2018, he was charged with domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor and pleaded guilty the following year.
Several months later, Jennings was charged with domestic abuse — assault and battery to which he also pleaded guilty. Court records also indicate that a state judge ordered Jennings to pay child support for a three-year-old boy in 2019.
