Dad who 'whooped' toddler to death gets life sentence

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Chad Holden Jennings (OSBI) and Caleb Jennings (KFOR screenshot)

A 34-year-old father in Oklahoma will spend the rest of his days behind bars for viciously beating his 3-year-old son to death and then burning the toddler’s remains in a makeshift burn pit. Seminole County Judge Timothy L. Olsen on Friday ordered Chad Holden Jennings to serve a sentence of life in a state correctional facility without the possibility of parole for the 2022 slaying of young Caleb Jennings, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.

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, records show. She was subsequently sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Katherine Penner (OSBI)

As previously reported by Law&Crime, the Seminole Police Department at approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, 2022, received a tip about the possible murder of a toddler at a secluded location off Old Highway 99 South. 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.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the burned remains of a toddler, 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.”

Jennings’ cousin testified during a preliminary hearing 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, KFOR 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.

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, per Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KOCO. To my family, I’m so sorry. I not only failed him, but I failed you too.”

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 3-year-old boy in 2019.