Hemphill Pride, II on Zinah Jennings

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “I think that law enforcement has a mammoth undertaking,” says Hemphill Pride, II, Defense Attorney for Zinah Jennings. Pride says when it comes to the case against his client Zinah Jennings involving her missing son, Amir Jennings, he doesn’t think law enforcement has much to go on. “The only evidence that I find in this case is that Amir is missing and that Zinah is the mother,” says Pride. “There is no evidence that Zinah had anything to do with the fact that he is missing,” says Pride. Police say Amir Jennings was last seen over Thanksgiving of last year and the one person who may know where he is, is not talking. “The person that is in jail and is not talking is charged with a criminal offense, first of all, and second of all she’s suffering with a mental illness,” says Pride. Hemphill Pride says Jennings was recently prescribed Resperdal, a medication used to treat disorders like Schizophrenia, though it is not known what Jennings actually suffers from. However, Pride says the medicine is affecting her. “I would sort of describe her as being zonked,” says Pride. He also says Jennings has complained about it. “She has sort of a lackluster appearance about her, she stays sleepy and she is stressed as a result of the medicine and the pregnancy,” says Pride. While he acknowledges his client isn’t talking to police, he also suggests they look elsewhere to find Amir. But, Columbia police say during the initial investigation Zinah lied to them about Amir’s whereabouts. “They should not rely on Zinah in order to find the child,” says Pride. “I think they should start in Atlanta where Zinah came from and go whereever the evidence takes them,” says Pride. The case against Zinah Jennings will go to a grand jury on May 10. She faces up to 10 years behind bars.