Man faces trial in 1985 murder

YOUNGSTOWN — A mid-February trial will be set for Bennie L. Adams, 50, of Hollywood Avenue, who faces the death penalty if he is convicted in the aggravated murder of Gina Gay Tenney 22 years ago, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum said during a Friday pretrial hearing.

The Mahoning County Common Pleas judge made his ruling after Adams, who remains jailed without bond, waived his right to be tried within 90 days of his arrest, and after his lawyer, Tony Meranto, said he needed additional trial preparation time. The jury trial had initially been set for Dec. 5.

Adams, who was arrested Oct. 4 based on DNA evidence, also faces rape, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and kidnapping charges in this case.

Tenney’s body was found floating in the Mahoning River on Dec. 30, 1985, the day after her strangulation death. Tenney, a 19-year-old Youngstown State University student, was Adams’ Ohio Avenue neighbor.