Dad HENRY CLAY JENKINS has been found guilty of murder and neglect in the death of his 14-year-old son, who had cystic fibrosis.
INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT: Is this a single father? Where's Mom?
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Father sentenced to life in son's death
Posted: Jun 23, 2010 10:35 AM CDT
Fayette County, W.Va. (WVVA) – A Fayette County father charged for murdering his own son was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
In May, a jury found Henry Clay Jenkins, 36, guilty of murder and neglect of his 14-year-old son, Christian Jenkins.
The teen suffered from cystic fibrosis, a respiratory disease, and in November of 2008, Jenkins gave his son oxycodone, which doctors say led to Christian's death.
Just before Judge Paul Blake asked Jenkins to rise for his sentencing, he told the father there is a higher power he will have to answer to one day for murdering his son; the courtroom would not be the last place where he would be held responsible.
Jenkins was then sentenced to life in prison. The jury did place mercy on the sentence, typically meaning after serving a minimum of 15 years, the individual may be eligible for parole.
However, Jenkins was also convicted of child neglect resulting in death, sentencing him to an additional three to 15 years.
Judge Blake ordered both sentences run consecutively. Jenkins will serve at least 18 years in prison before being eligible for parole, giving a feeling of justice to the family members of the deceased teen.
"I had decided that I was going to be satisfied with whatever happened," said Christian's grandmother, Patricia Paruscio. "But this right here…the bible says a life for a life, and the judge saw that, and he gave the father life too."
Emotions ran high outside the courtroom as the family grieved the loss of a beloved child, but took comfort in knowing Henry Jenkins would never again hurt his son.
"He never was what you call a father," says Paruscio. "I take that word back."