GREENEVILLE — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested a Greene County couple Friday on murder and other charges stemming from the death of their infant daughter in September 2012.
The couple was indicted by a Greene County grand jury on Wednesday.
Stephen Jennings, 24, of Greeneville was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated child neglect and one count of aggravated child abuse in the death of his 8-month-old daughter, Abby Jennings. The infant’s mother, Pooja Jennings, 24, of Chuckey, was indicted on one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated child neglect.
On September 17, 2012, Abby Jennings was picked up by Greene County EMS at her mother’s residence located at 1416 Fairview Road and transported to Laughlin Hospital, where she had bruising on various parts of her body and was unresponsive. The same day, she was transported to Johnson City Medical Center and died on September 18.
Witnesses advised that Abby had bruising on her body and was lethargic after returning from visiting her father Stephen in his Greeneville residence on September 14. Pooja did not seek medical treatment for the child after she was returned to her residence and in her care throughout the weekend. The couple is married, but are separated and not living together.
The 3rd Judicial District Attorney General’s office requested TBI to investigate the case with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Stephen and Pooja Jennings were booked into the Greene County Jail today on $1,000,000 bond each.
