Mother Takes Plea Deal In Infants Death A woman initially charged with first-degree murder in connection with the September 2012 death of her 8-month-old daughter entered a guilty plea Thursday in Greene County Criminal Court to aggravated child neglect. Pooja Pari Jennings, 25, formerly of Locust Street, was sentenced to a 25-year prison term at 30 percent release eligibility by Judge John F. Dugger Jr. Father Stephen Allen Jennings, 25, formerly of Greene Mountain Road, remains charged with first-degree murder in the case. His Criminal Court trial is scheduled for next month. Pooja and Stephen Jennings were charged in May 2013 in connection with their infant daughters September 2012 death that investigators said was under suspicious circumstances. Stephen and Pooja Jennings are married but were living separately in September 2012. IN FATHERS CARE The baby girl was in the care of Stephen Jennings on Sept. 14 of that year and later returned to Pooja Jennings, prosecutors said. Abby Leeann Jennings arrived Sept. 17, 2012, at Laughlin Memorial Hospital in very bad condition and was placed on life support. The 8-month-old was taken off life support the next day after being transferred to Johnson City Medical Center. Pooja Jennings will be a states witness going forward, Assistant District Attorney General Ritchie Collins said Friday. Jennings was also scheduled for a Criminal Court trial in January. She is represented by Michael A. Walcher, assistant public defender. The decision to enter the plea to the reduced felony charge happened really quick on Thursday, Collins said. Her plea fit the facts, he said. Former District Attorney General Berkeley Bell said in September 2012 that Abby Jennings suffered violent trauma and died as a result of brain injuries. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation that led to charges being filed against Stephen and Pooja Jennings. Witnesses advised Abby had bruising on her body and was lethargic after returning from visiting her father Stephen in his Greeneville residence on Sept. 14, a TBI release from 2012 stated. Pooja Jennings did not seek medical treatment for the baby after she was returned to her residence and in her care throughout the weekend, the release said. Prosecutors acknowledged at a court hearing after her arrest that Pooja Jennings was not directly responsible for the babys death. Stephen Jennings gave a statement to an investigator from Bells office in September 2012. In the statement, Jennings said he was sorry for what I did, but denied any physical abuse of the 8-month-old. I know it happened on my watch, Jennings said in the statement. I dont know what it was that caused it. Pooja Jennings was not allegedly the active person who committed the aggravated assault, but could be found criminally responsible for the babys death, Dugger said at a September 2012 hearing. Stephen Jennings made contradictory statements by saying he was sorry for his daughters death but denying any physical abuse, Dugger said. Collins said Friday that Stephen Jennings will be tried on two theories of first-degree murder: while perpetrating aggravated child neglect and murder as a result of child abuse. greenevillesun/news/local_news/article_905891bf-123c-5cbb-884c-468d55a08a0f.html
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 07:05:05 +0000
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