(LEX 18) — A man set to go on trial for the murder of a couple has died. The Marion County Detention Center reports Craig Pennington's death is COVID-19 related.
Craig Pennington was charged in 2016 with the murders of Bobby Jones and Crystal Warner.
"They were a boomin' couple, doing good, just got cheated on life," Scott Jones, brother of Bobby, said.
The couple's family says Pennington was renting a cabin from them in Washington County, and the families say he killed them after being confronted about being behind on his payments. The bodies of Bobby Jones and Crystal Warner were found in separate counties, months apart. For four years, the couple's families have been waiting for Pennington's trial, which had been delayed multiple times.
"It was aggravating waiting for the justice system to do their job and then to watch them keep postponing it. It was like nothing was ever going to happen, was it?" Jennifer Fine, Bobby's sister-in-law, said.
But before Craig Pennington could stand trial, the 56-year-old died from COVID-19. The family says the news about the man suspected of killing their loved ones brings up a mix of emotions.
"I wanted to see him go suffer a lot more than he did. You know, he hurt a lot of people. Bob was a dad, an uncle, a brother, he was a son, he has a bunch of different places in life," Scott added.
Bobby Jones's parents sent a statement to LEX 18:
"Craig's death doesn't change anything, nor does it bring them back. The pain will never go ahead nor fade, but now we don't have to rely on our justice system that fails people's every day. God took justice into his own hands."
