14-Year-Old Boy Pleads Guilty to Murdering His 64-Year-OId Neighbor in Her Home

A 14-year-old boy has admitted to killing a 64-year-old woman who was found dead in her Fairfax, Ohio home earlier this year.

According to local ABC affiliate WCPO, the teen — who was 13 at the time of the offense — pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 10, to aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and strangulation. He will remain in a Department of Youth Services facility until age 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a juvenile.

Authorities responded to the Germania Street residence on Feb. 2, where they discovered the body of Sheila Denise Tenpenny. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office determined that she had suffered trauma to both her head and neck, WCPO reported.

Investigators linked the boy to the crime after they found his blood inside the home. Tenpenny had fought back — scratching his face — and investigators said she died holding a lock of his hair, according to the outlet.

Tenpenny’s brother discovered her body and called 911. In audio obtained by NBC affiliate WLWT, he told dispatchers, “I think my sister’s been murdered… She’s got her head covered with a pillow, her legs exposed.”

The suspect, who has not been publicly identified due to his age, was arrested ten days later, on Feb. 12.

During a court hearing, Prosecutor Linda Scott stated that the teen had been planning the crime for months. She said the boy had researched methods of strangulation and searched for ways to select a victim, per WLWT. Afterward, he allegedly posted on social media about the attack, writing, “This one was a fighter.”

A Bureau of Criminal Investigations agent testified that the teen had also searched for ways to evade police questioning. While officers were investigating, he reportedly sent a message saying, “I think I just got caught.”

“It’s very disturbing,” Fairfax Police Chief Rick Ward told WLWT. “My fear is he made mistakes, but in the future is will he learn from those mistakes.”

In an obituary from Vankirk Grisell Funeral Home, Tenpenny was remembered as “a beacon of light who touched the lives of many with her kind heart, unwavering resilience, and exceptional humor,” leaving behind cherished lessons and memories for those who knew her.