Man given life sentence in 2017 murder

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Warren Circuit Judge John Grise sentenced a Bowling Green man to life in prison Tuesday following the recommendation of a jury during a sentencing trial earlier this month.

Justin Denihan, 26, pleaded guilty in February to murder, abuse of corpse and tampering with physical evidence in the strangulation death of Kelly Hackett in 2017, according to Warren Circuit Court records. A sentencing trial in front of a jury was held Sept. 15 and 16. That jury recommended the sentence Grise handed down Tuesday.

Denihan received the life sentence on the murder charge, 12 months on abuse of a corpse and five years for tampering with physical evidence, Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron said. All of the sentences will be served concurrently, and Denihan will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years.