‘J Streets’ Gets Life for Brutal Ohio Triple Murder

COLUMBUS, OH – Larry J. Williams Jr., 44, known on the streets as “J Streets” and “J,” will spend the rest of his life behind bars after receiving three consecutive life sentences plus 60 months in federal prison today. Williams was convicted for the brutal murders of three individuals in Columbus, stemming from a botched 2018 drug robbery and a desperate attempt to silence witnesses. The sentence, handed down in U.S. District Court, reflects the sheer depravity of Williams’ actions and his calculated efforts to cover up his crimes.

The jury found Williams guilty on all 16 counts in a second superseding indictment dating back to September 2021, following a grueling three-week trial in December 2024. Court documents reveal Williams led a narcotics conspiracy aimed at robbing a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash. The initial robbery at 847 E.N. Broadway escalated into violence, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Connor Reynolds of Grove City. This initial murder sparked a chain of events fueled by fear and a ruthless desire for self-preservation.

To bury the truth about Reynolds’ death, Williams systematically eliminated anyone who posed a threat to his freedom. In August 2018, he murdered Henry Watson, 52, of Columbus, fearing Watson would share information with law enforcement. Immediately following Watson’s death, Williams also murdered Tera Pennington, 48, also of Columbus, to prevent her from witnessing the earlier crimes. The evidence painted a chilling picture of a calculated killer willing to do anything to protect himself. He then directed accomplices to scrub the crime scene with bleach and chemicals.

But Williams didn’t stop at simply hiding the bodies. He orchestrated a horrifying cover-up, instructing others to dismember Watson and Pennington and bury their remains at an undisclosed location. The grim task fell to co-conspirators, including Patrick Foster, 41, of Columbus, who received a 70-month sentence today for his role in the disposal. Foster directed three others to jackhammer through the concrete floor of a Sullivant Avenue property he owned, burying the dismembered remains under a fresh layer of cement. The level of planning and callousness is staggering.

Beyond the murders, Williams also operated a drug house at 121 Stevens Ave., dealing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The residence was a haven for addiction, and on multiple occasions, users overdosed in the basement, requiring co-conspirators to administer Narcan to revive them. The case highlights the deadly intersection of drug trafficking and violent crime, and the devastating consequences for both victims and communities. A total of 13 defendants have now been convicted and sentenced in connection with this sprawling criminal enterprise.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris, along with Jared Murphey of ICE HSI Detroit, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Timothy D. Prichard led the prosecution. The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, ATF, Columbus Division of Fire, and Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. The message is clear: those who engage in such brutality will face the full force of the law.