An 85-year-old mother of a disabled son in Idaho was deemed to have committed “justifiable homicide” by a county prosecutor. This ruling came after she shot an armed burglar who had sneaked into her home and threatened to “kill her multiple times.”
According to an incident review written on Tuesday, Christine Jenneiahn performed what Bingham County prosecutor Ryan Jolley described as “one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation” when she shot and killed Derek Condon, who was 39 years old.
Around 2 a.m. on March 13, Condon startled Jenneiahn from her sleep at her residence in Blackfoot, southeastern Idaho, according to Jolley’s review. Condon, donning a military jacket and a black ski mask, aimed a gun and flashlight at Jenneiahn, as stated by the review.
A later inquiry into the incident suggested a “strong likelihood” that Condon struck Jenneiahn in the head while she was in her bed, evidenced by blood found on her pillow and bedroom floor, as outlined in the prosecutor’s review. Following this, Condon proceeded to handcuff Jennejahn and relocate her to the living room, as detailed in the legal document.
Numerous threats were made to Christine Jenneiahn’s life, prosecutor says
This Article Includes
- 1 Numerous threats were made to Christine Jenneiahn’s life, prosecutor says
- 2 Christine Jenneiahn shot burglar while handcuffed, prosecutor says
- 3 Derek Condon died from injuries, police found burglary tools on him, prosecutor says
- 4 ‘Truly incredible,’ prosecutor says about Christine Jenneiahn surviving the incident
According to the review, Jenneiahn eventually informed Condon about the presence of two safes downstairs. As a result, Condon left her handcuffed in the living room while he thoroughly searched multiple rooms on multiple occasions.
Upon checking downstairs, Condon discovered that Jenneiahn’s disabled son was also present in the house, as stated in Jolley’s review. This revelation angered Condon, as he was not informed by Jenneiahn about the presence of anyone else in the house.
Jolley mentioned in the incident review that Condon had also repeatedly threatened Christine, informing her that he intended to harm her.
Christine Jenneiahn shot burglar while handcuffed, prosecutor says
While Condon was downstairs, Jenneiahn took matters into her own hands. She brought the chair, to which she was handcuffed, into her bedroom and retrieved her .357 Magnum from under her pillow. Afterward, she returned to the living room and cleverly concealed the gun between the armrest and cushion of a nearby couch. Jenneiahn patiently waited, observing Condon’s next move.
Derek Condon died from injuries, police found burglary tools on him, prosecutor says
The mother dialed 911 when her son approached her in the morning, handing her the phone, as mentioned in the review. Deputies promptly arrived at the residence and diligently worked to save Jenneiahn’s life, as stated in the legal document.
During the review, Jolley discovered that Condon was in possession of a bag containing various items, including a lock pick set, car keys, and a handcuff key, all of which were taken from Jenneiahn’s home.
‘Truly incredible,’ prosecutor says about Christine Jenneiahn surviving the incident
According to Jolley’s office, Condon’s murder falls under the category of a “justifiable homicide” as per Idaho law.
According to Idaho law, the stance on self-defense is unequivocal. As stated in Idaho Code section 19-202A, “No person in this state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting himself.” Furthermore, individuals are granted the right to stand their ground and defend themselves or others through the use of any necessary force and means.
According to Jolley, it is reasonable to believe that one would feel the need to defend themselves or their disabled child in such circumstances.
According to Jolley, it is truly remarkable that Christine managed to survive this encounter. He emphasizes her incredible resilience, determination, and unwavering desire to stay alive as the key factors that saved her and her son that night. Jolley believes that Christine was completely justified in using any necessary measures to protect herself and her child.
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