Woman, 85, shoots and kills home intruder in ‘heroic’ act of self-defense

BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (Gray News/KPTV) - A woman is being praised for her actions as she fought off an armed man during a home invasion last month.

Idaho authorities say Christine Jenneiahn, 85, used a handgun she had hidden underneath her pillow to shoot and kill an intruder who had allegedly bound her to a chair and threatened her life.

Jenneiahn reportedly turned the tables on the man and shot him twice with her .357 magnum.

The alleged home intruder, who died in the woman’s kitchen, was later identified as 39-year-old Derek Condon.

She told detectives that she felt he was going to kill her if she didn’t use lethal force. So, she made the decision to protect herself and her disabled son.

“This case presents an easy analysis of self-defense and justifiable homicide,” Bingham County, Idaho, Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Jolley said. “It also presents one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation I have heard of.”

Authorities said the home invasion was reported on March 13.

According to Jenneiahn, she was awakened at about 2 a.m. by a figure standing over her bed, aiming a gun and a flashlight at her while donning a black ski mask and military jacket.

Investigators believe Condon broke through a window to enter the house and struck Jenneiahn in the head with a pistol while she was in bed.

Jenneiahn told detectives that he led her into her living room, handcuffed her to a wooden chair, and asked her where the valuables were kept in her home while placing a pistol against her head.

Police said the 85-year-old told them that she dragged the chair she was shackled in back to her bedroom to get the gun from under her pillow when the attacker went downstairs.

According to investigators, Condon became enraged with Jenneiahn for not informing him that her son was inside the house and once more threatened to kill her. At that moment, she reached for her gun and opened fire.

Condon reportedly returned fire with Jenneiahn sustaining gunshot wounds to her belly, leg, arm and chest.

Officers said Jenneiahn remained chained to the chair and bleeding on the floor of her living room for 10 hours until her son came upstairs and they called 911.

Idaho authorities said Jenneiahn had a right to protect herself, citing that state’s stand-your-ground law.

“Any reasonable person would believe it necessary to defend themselves or their disabled child under such circumstances,” Jolley said. “That Christine survived this encounter is truly incredible. Her grit, determination, and will to live appear to be what saved her that night.”

The prosecuting attorney said if Condon had survived, he would have been charged with felony attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, aggravated battery and grand theft.

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