In the quiet community of Nashville, Michigan, concern grew for 42-year-old Gregory Brian Pennington after he was last seen on November 14, 2024, in the Vermontville area. The unease escalated when his vehicle was discovered abandoned on December 11, 2024, in the 4000 block of Michigan Road. The following day, December 12, he was officially reported missing, sparking an investigation by the Eaton County Sheriff's Office who immediately suspected foul play may have been involved in his
disappearance. Pennington was a male who stood approximately 6'2' tall, weighed 230 pounds, and had brown hair and blue eyes.
The search for Gregory Pennington stretched on for months, leaving his family and community in agonizing uncertainty. The grim breakthrough in the case came on April 29, 2025, when investigators located his remains in Chester Township. With this discovery, the missing person case tragically transformed into a homicide investigation, confirming the darkest fears of those who knew him.
The investigation into Pennington's death led to the arrest of four individuals who now face serious charges. Bradley Lance of Lansing has been charged with second-degree murder, torture, and removing a dead body without the medical examiner's permission. Janelle Melo and Lucas Forker, both from Nashville, along with William Cheney of Vermontville, are each facing charges of torture. Authorities believe these four individuals were involved in the events that led to Pennington's death. As the legal proceedings against the four suspects began, it was revealed that William Cheney was also facing a separate charge of lying to an officer during a violent crime investigation, a charge connected to the Pennington case.
