Topline: Prosecutors say the Fairfax teen spent months researching how to strangle someone and how to cover up a murder before killing 64-year-old Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny.
Published: November 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Must Read
Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny (via Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home)
FAIRFAX, OH — A 14-year-old boy will spend the rest of his teenage years behind bars after admitting to the premeditated murder of his 64-year-old neighbor, Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny — a crime prosecutors say he spent months planning in chilling detail.
According to WLWT, the boy, who was 13 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty Monday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court to aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and strangulation.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop six additional charges and a “serious youthful offender” indictment that could have exposed him to adult sentencing later on.
Under the plea agreement, the teen will remain in custody at an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility until his 21st birthday — the maximum sentence allowed for a juvenile. He is barred from contacting Tenpenny’s family and cannot seek early release.
Assistant Prosecutor Linda Scott told the court that the boy had been researching how to kill for months before the February attack. According to reporting from cincinnati.com, investigators found that the teen searched online for “how to strangle someone,” “how to choose the perfect victim,” and “how to defeat a police interrogation,” even using ChatGPT and other engines to gather information.
“For months the defendant did this sort of research,” Scott said in court, according to WLWT. “He researched how to strangle someone, how to do it, how to find a victim.”
Police say the attack unfolded sometime between late Feb. 1 and early Feb. 2 at Tenpenny’s Germania Street home. Her brother discovered her body under a pillow and called 911, telling dispatchers, “I think my sister’s been murdered.” The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later found trauma to Tenpenny’s head and neck, consistent with being beaten and strangled, according to WCPO.
Scott said the boy broke into the home while Tenpenny was asleep, struck her, and then suffocated her as she fought for her life. DNA evidence later tied him to the scene. Investigators found his blood throughout the home, his watch beneath her body, and strands of his hair clutched in her hand.
After the killing, prosecutors said, the boy posted on social media: “This one was a fighter.” According to Agent David Ward of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the teen also sent messages during the investigation saying, “I think I just got caught.”
Ward, who has spent more than two decades investigating violent crimes, called the case “chilling.” “In my 25 years, I’ve never seen premeditation like this with someone this age,” he told the court, as reported by both WCPO and cincinnati.com. He said agents are still investigating people the teen communicated with online, including one individual believed to be overseas.
During Monday’s hearing, members of Tenpenny’s family read statements describing their grief and disbelief. Her niece said, “What you did was not an accident, it was deliberate and it was planned. You chose her because you thought she was alone and no one would notice or care. You were wrong.” Another relative added, “She was deeply loved. You thought no one would grieve her; instead, you shattered an entire circle of people.”
Her sister, Donna Navarre, broke down before she could finish reading her statement, handing it to a liaison to continue. “My sister was a good woman. She never hurt anyone,” Navarre’s statement read, according to WLWT. “This was a deliberate and heartless act that took the life of someone who deserved nothing but kindness.”
Tenpenny’s brother-in-law, Troy Navarre, spoke directly to the teen: “For the juvenile murderer — I do feel sorry for you. Sorry that you had a family that did not teach you right from wrong. For the family of the murderer, I’m sorry for you too.”
Throughout the proceedings, the boy remained quiet, occasionally glancing at his attorney, public defender Travis Dunnington, who acknowledged the gravity of the crime but urged the court to remember the principles of juvenile justice. “Acts committed, especially at this young of an age, do not have to define who you will always be,” he said.
Judge Kari Bloom accepted the plea and imposed the maximum juvenile sentence. While in detention, the teen must complete his high school education and participate in cognitive behavioral therapy.
As cincinnati.com noted, because the boy was under 14 at the time of the killing, he could not legally be tried as an adult — a fact that left some in the courtroom uneasy, given the brutality and planning behind the crime.
Ward, the veteran investigator, said his concern now lies beyond the sentence. “He made mistakes,” Ward said. “The question is — in the future, is he going to learn from those mistakes?”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
14-Year-Old Searched ‘How to Find the Perfect Victim’ Before Killing Neighbor
Prosecutors say the Fairfax teen spent months researching how to strangle someone and how to cover up a murder before killing 64-year-old Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny.
By Jacob Charles
Published: November 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny (via Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home)
FAIRFAX, OH — A 14-year-old boy will spend the rest of his teenage years behind bars after admitting to the premeditated murder of his 64-year-old neighbor, Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny — a crime prosecutors say he spent months planning in chilling detail.
According to WLWT, the boy, who was 13 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty Monday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court to aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and strangulation.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop six additional charges and a “serious youthful offender” indictment that could have exposed him to adult sentencing later on.
Under the plea agreement, the teen will remain in custody at an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility until his 21st birthday — the maximum sentence allowed for a juvenile. He is barred from contacting Tenpenny’s family and cannot seek early release.
Assistant Prosecutor Linda Scott told the court that the boy had been researching how to kill for months before the February attack. According to reporting from cincinnati.com, investigators found that the teen searched online for “how to strangle someone,” “how to choose the perfect victim,” and “how to defeat a police interrogation,” even using ChatGPT and other engines to gather information.
“For months the defendant did this sort of research,” Scott said in court, according to WLWT. “He researched how to strangle someone, how to do it, how to find a victim.”
Police say the attack unfolded sometime between late Feb. 1 and early Feb. 2 at Tenpenny’s Germania Street home. Her brother discovered her body under a pillow and called 911, telling dispatchers, “I think my sister’s been murdered.” The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later found trauma to Tenpenny’s head and neck, consistent with being beaten and strangled, according to WCPO.
Scott said the boy broke into the home while Tenpenny was asleep, struck her, and then suffocated her as she fought for her life. DNA evidence later tied him to the scene. Investigators found his blood throughout the home, his watch beneath her body, and strands of his hair clutched in her hand.
After the killing, prosecutors said, the boy posted on social media: “This one was a fighter.” According to Agent David Ward of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the teen also sent messages during the investigation saying, “I think I just got caught.”
Ward, who has spent more than two decades investigating violent crimes, called the case “chilling.” “In my 25 years, I’ve never seen premeditation like this with someone this age,” he told the court, as reported by both WCPO and cincinnati.com. He said agents are still investigating people the teen communicated with online, including one individual believed to be overseas.
During Monday’s hearing, members of Tenpenny’s family read statements describing their grief and disbelief. Her niece said, “What you did was not an accident, it was deliberate and it was planned. You chose her because you thought she was alone and no one would notice or care. You were wrong.” Another relative added, “She was deeply loved. You thought no one would grieve her; instead, you shattered an entire circle of people.”
Her sister, Donna Navarre, broke down before she could finish reading her statement, handing it to a liaison to continue. “My sister was a good woman. She never hurt anyone,” Navarre’s statement read, according to WLWT. “This was a deliberate and heartless act that took the life of someone who deserved nothing but kindness.”
Tenpenny’s brother-in-law, Troy Navarre, spoke directly to the teen: “For the juvenile murderer — I do feel sorry for you. Sorry that you had a family that did not teach you right from wrong. For the family of the murderer, I’m sorry for you too.”
Throughout the proceedings, the boy remained quiet, occasionally glancing at his attorney, public defender Travis Dunnington, who acknowledged the gravity of the crime but urged the court to remember the principles of juvenile justice. “Acts committed, especially at this young of an age, do not have to define who you will always be,” he said.
Judge Kari Bloom accepted the plea and imposed the maximum juvenile sentence. While in detention, the teen must complete his high school education and participate in cognitive behavioral therapy.
As cincinnati.com noted, because the boy was under 14 at the time of the killing, he could not legally be tried as an adult — a fact that left some in the courtroom uneasy, given the brutality and planning behind the crime.
Ward, the veteran investigator, said his concern now lies beyond the sentence. “He made mistakes,” Ward said. “The question is — in the future, is he going to learn from those mistakes?”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
14-Year-Old Searched ‘How to Find the Perfect Victim’ Before Killing Neighbor
Prosecutors say the Fairfax teen spent months researching how to strangle someone and how to cover up a murder before killing 64-year-old Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny.
By Jacob Charles
Published: November 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny (via Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home)
FAIRFAX, OH — A 14-year-old boy will spend the rest of his teenage years behind bars after admitting to the premeditated murder of his 64-year-old neighbor, Sheila “Denise” Tenpenny — a crime prosecutors say he spent months planning in chilling detail.
According to WLWT, the boy, who was 13 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty Monday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court to aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and strangulation.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop six additional charges and a “serious youthful offender” indictment that could have exposed him to adult sentencing later on.
Under the plea agreement, the teen will remain in custody at an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility until his 21st birthday — the maximum sentence allowed for a juvenile. He is barred from contacting Tenpenny’s family and cannot seek early release.
Assistant Prosecutor Linda Scott told the court that the boy had been researching how to kill for months before the February attack. According to reporting from cincinnati.com, investigators found that the teen searched online for “how to strangle someone,” “how to choose the perfect victim,” and “how to defeat a police interrogation,” even using ChatGPT and other engines to gather information.
“For months the defendant did this sort of research,” Scott said in court, according to WLWT. “He researched how to strangle someone, how to do it, how to find a victim.”
Police say the attack unfolded sometime between late Feb. 1 and early Feb. 2 at Tenpenny’s Germania Street home. Her brother discovered her body under a pillow and called 911, telling dispatchers, “I think my sister’s been murdered.” The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later found trauma to Tenpenny’s head and neck, consistent with being beaten and strangled, according to WCPO.
Scott said the boy broke into the home while Tenpenny was asleep, struck her, and then suffocated her as she fought for her life. DNA evidence later tied him to the scene. Investigators found his blood throughout the home, his watch beneath her body, and strands of his hair clutched in her hand.
After the killing, prosecutors said, the boy posted on social media: “This one was a fighter.” According to Agent David Ward of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the teen also sent messages during the investigation saying, “I think I just got caught.”
Ward, who has spent more than two decades investigating violent crimes, called the case “chilling.” “In my 25 years, I’ve never seen premeditation like this with someone this age,” he told the court, as reported by both WCPO and cincinnati.com. He said agents are still investigating people the teen communicated with online, including one individual believed to be overseas.
During Monday’s hearing, members of Tenpenny’s family read statements describing their grief and disbelief. Her niece said, “What you did was not an accident, it was deliberate and it was planned. You chose her because you thought she was alone and no one would notice or care. You were wrong.” Another relative added, “She was deeply loved. You thought no one would grieve her; instead, you shattered an entire circle of people.”
Her sister, Donna Navarre, broke down before she could finish reading her statement, handing it to a liaison to continue. “My sister was a good woman. She never hurt anyone,” Navarre’s statement read, according to WLWT. “This was a deliberate and heartless act that took the life of someone who deserved nothing but kindness.”
Tenpenny’s brother-in-law, Troy Navarre, spoke directly to the teen: “For the juvenile murderer — I do feel sorry for you. Sorry that you had a family that did not teach you right from wrong. For the family of the murderer, I’m sorry for you too.”
Throughout the proceedings, the boy remained quiet, occasionally glancing at his attorney, public defender Travis Dunnington, who acknowledged the gravity of the crime but urged the court to remember the principles of juvenile justice. “Acts committed, especially at this young of an age, do not have to define who you will always be,” he said.
Judge Kari Bloom accepted the plea and imposed the maximum juvenile sentence. While in detention, the teen must complete his high school education and participate in cognitive behavioral therapy.
As cincinnati.com noted, because the boy was under 14 at the time of the killing, he could not legally be tried as an adult — a fact that left some in the courtroom uneasy, given the brutality and planning behind the crime.
Ward, the veteran investigator, said his concern now lies beyond the sentence. “He made mistakes,” Ward said. “The question is — in the future, is he going to learn from those mistakes?”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
