Woman, 85, praised for 'heroic act' of fatally shooting intruder in self-defense while handcuffed

BINGHAM COUNTY, IDAHO: Last month, according to law enforcement, an elderly mother from Idaho was forced into a life-or-death situation when she shot and killed a man who broke into her home, attacked her, and threatened her life.

Christine Jenneiahn, 85, will not face charges for the justifiable homicide of Derek Condon, 39, according to a case review released this week by Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Jolley.

Christine Jenneiahn's 'case presents an easy analysis of self-defense'

“This case presents an easy analysis of self-defense and justifiable homicide,” the document reads.

It further stated, “It also presents one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation I have heard of. Condon was still in the act of his violent home invasion when Christine chose to engage him with deadly force.”

The prosecutor stated that the incident occurred in the early morning hours of March 13. According to the document, at the time, Jenneiahn's disabled son was the only other person "lawfully in her home."

According to the initial press release from the Bingham County Sheriff's Office, the crime took place in Blackfoot, which serves as the county seat and is a medium-sized city. Around two in the morning, Condon woke her up.

The prosecutor concluded that she was confronted by a man who was "dressed in a military jacket, wearing a black ski mask, and pointing a gun and flashlight at her."

“Subsequent investigation indicates a strong likelihood that Condon struck Christine in the head as she lay in her bed, as there was blood on the pillow and floor in her room where she had been sleeping,” Jolley added in the case review.

“She also reported he had hit her in the head at some point during the incident but was unsure of exactly when that took place,” Jolley said.

Christine Jenneiahn suffered multiple injuries

According to the prosecutor, Jenneiahn soon found herself on the losing end of the ordeal when the man handcuffed her to a wooden chair, forced her into her own living room at gunpoint, and demanded to know where her valuables were.

When the woman stated she had nothing to steal, Condon angrily pressed the gun to her head.

The document continued by stating, "After informing Condon that there were two safes downstairs in the home, he left her handcuffed in the living room and went downstairs multiple times, rummaging through several rooms in the house."

The intruder reportedly became enraged upon learning of Jenneiahn's son's presence during the attempted robbery. Condon chastised the woman for failing to mention the disabled man, threatening to kill her several times.

As the robbery continued, Jenneiahn managed to pull herself, still handcuffed to the chair, to the side of her bed and reach under a pillow where she kept a .357 magnum.

To endure the terror, she dragged herself back to where the attacker had left her, concealing her gun between a couch cushion and an armrest.

The woman admitted to law enforcement that her memory of the crucial moments had grown foggy, but she emphasized that it was a "now or never" situation when she received a second threat to her life.

She reached for the gun, pulled it out of its hiding place, and fired the two shots that would kill Condon, Jolley related. However, the prosecutor claimed that in retaliation, the home invader emptied an entire magazine.

Jenneiahn sustained blows to her chest, arm, leg, and abdomen. Eventually, she collapsed to the ground, where she remained for about ten hours until her son brought her a phone so she could dial 911, Law&Crime reported.

Despite sustaining multiple wounds, the woman miraculously survived. She was saved by the arrival of sheriff's deputies shortly after 12:15 pm.

Christine Jenneiahn had the right to shoot and kill Derek Condon

After thoroughly reviewing Gem State law regarding self-defense, the prosecutor's investigation concluded that Jenneiahn had every right to shoot and kill Condon.

"He had told Christine that he would kill her multiple times," Jolley's statement continued.

Jolley further added, “He had broken into her home in the middle of the night, handcuffed her to a chair, and struck her with his firearm. Her disabled son was downstairs in his room. She is also 85 years old. Any reasonable person would believe it necessary to defend themselves or their disabled child under such circumstances.”

The prosecutor stated that if the man who used a screwdriver to break through a window had survived the shooting, he would have been charged with several felonies, including attempted murder and kidnapping.

“That Christine survived this encounter is truly incredible,” Jolley remarked.

“Her grit, determination, and will live appear to be what saved her that night. Absent a clear attempt by Condon to retreat from the residence or surrender, which based on the evidence clearly did not occur, Christine was justified in taking any and all means necessary to defend herself and her son that night,” Jolley concluded.