Austintown killer gets 26 years to life

Austintown killer gets 26 years to life

YOUNGSTOWN — The holiday season intensified the distress of a bereaved family at a murderer’s sentencing, nearly a year after a brutal mid-December homicide.

“Our family now has an empty seat at every family gathering. The holidays will never be the same for us,” said Pam Constantino of Cuyahoga Falls.

Constantino is the sister of Robin L. Kellar, who was robbed, beaten to death and burned just before Christmas 2006 in her Austintown apartment.

“Robin’s life ended way too early. The pain the Kellar family shares is way too much for any family to bear. The sentencing today could never be strong enough,’’ Constantino told Judge R. Scott Krichbaum before he imposed 26 years to life in prison on the murderer, Gregg A. Jenkins, 32.

“She was only 45 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her still, and this person took it away,” said the victim’s son, Army Pfc. Josh Kellar of Fort Lee, Va. “I was her whole world, and she was mine. ... She dedicated her life to me,” he said of his mother.

Judge Krichbaum told Jenkins today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court: “I have imposed a life sentence upon you, and that’s what I intend for you to serve.”

The judge imposed the sentence on Jenkins in the death of his Compass West apartment complex neighbor last Dec. 15.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.