Man convicted on all eight charges in bizarre Charleston murder case, crime spreee

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — UPDATED, 2:07 p.m. 5/03/21

A Kanawha County jury has convicted a man in a bizarre murder case on all eight counts.

On Monday, jurors convicted Joshua Drennen, 28, of Clendenin on all charges, including the brutal murder of a 77-year-old woman and attacking a Charleston police officer with an antique iron.

The officer shot and wounded Drennen during the attack.

The jury now must decide whether or not to recommend mercy. A decision was expected later Monday, but the jury has recessed until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Drennen, 28, of Clendenin was initially charged with 10 counts in connection with the events that transpired in February 2020, but prosecutors said the jury heard evidence on eight of those charges.

Drennen's attorney said his client suffered from "religious delusions" and attributed the crimes to mental illness that included methamphetamine use.

ORIGINAL STORY

A Kanawha County Jury was deliberating Monday afternoon in the Joshua Drennen trial.

Drennen is accused of killing an elderly woman and going on a crime spree through Charleston last year.

The jury started deliberations for the day about 9 a.m. and members asked the judge if they could see a couple items used as evidence, including an antique iron and a knife, which prosecutors say Drennen used to kill 77-year-old Barbara Steele.

The crimes happened last year in February. Police arrested Drennen and charged him with the murder of Steele, car jacking, assaulting a police officer and other crimes. Friday, the jury heard closing arguments, and then started deliberating. Drennen's attorney tried to convince a jury that Drennen is mentally ill and should not be found guilty of a murderous Charleston crime spree.