Murder sentencing takes bizarre twist

MIAMI COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - Donald Pepper was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Thursday in Miami County for killing his roommate.

For some, who say Pepper is to blame for another death, the prison time is long overdue.

"In the end it comes back to bite you and it has come back to bite him," says Marcia Kellems, who used to be Pepper's neighbor.

Pepper had pleaded guilty to killing his 65-year old roommate James Wolf after first telling 911 operators back in April it was a lawn mower accident.

Prosecutors painted a picture of Pepper as a man who had taken advantage of Wolfe to get money from him before brutally killing him with a roofing stapler.

As shocking as the story sounds, Marcia and the family of Penny Jenkins say it follows a familiar script.

"This was not his first time," Kellems says. "We believe in our hearts he did the same thing to Penny."

Marcia and other friends and family of Penny Jenkins were on hand to see Pepper sentenced.

They say he moved in with Penny, 30 years his senior, less than a month after her husband died. Shortly after that they were married.

"He started becoming verbally abusive," Kellems says.

Penny later died. Friends say Pepper had her cremated right away.

No charges have ever been filed against him in Jenkins death, but those close to her are convinced he was responsible and feel he should have been stopped sooner.

"Maybe if somebody would have listened to us it wouldn't have gotten that far," Kellems says.