85-Year-Old Idaho Woman Outsmarts, Eliminates Violent Intruder

The tranquil serenity of rural Idaho was shattered recently when an 85-year-old woman was forced to defend her home and her life against a violent intruder.

The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office reported a chilling scene. The officers, who arrived in response to a distress call, found a man dead from gunshot wounds and the elderly homeowner injured but alive.

The nightmare unfolded around 2 a.m. as 39-year-old Derek Ephriam Condon parked his vehicle a mile away to avoid detection before breaking into the woman’s home. Dressed in a military jacket and black ski mask, Condon used a screwdriver to penetrate the home’s sanctuary through a window.

The once peaceful sleep of homeowner Christine Jenneiahn was brutally disrupted as Condon struck her in the head with his weapon. Evidence of this violent encounter was later confirmed by police who found traces of her blood on her pillow.

Jenneiahn was next dragged to the living room, where Condon handcuffed her to a wooden chair. He demanded the location of her valuables. When she insisted she had little of value, Condon’s frustration escalated, and he pressed his gun against her head.

In an attempt to deflect his anger, she told Condon about two safes located downstairs. As he went to investigate her claim, he discovered her disabled son in the home, further enraging him.

However, Condon’s departure offered Jenneiahn a lifeline. She seized the opportunity to drag herself and her chair towards her pillow, where she kept concealed a .357 Magnum revolver. With the weapon now in her possession, she waited for Condon’s next move.

According to Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley, Condon had made threats on Jenneiahn’s life as he ransacked her home. Sensing the imminent danger, she made the courageous decision to defend herself and fired her weapon at the intruder.

Condon was hit twice but managed to return fire, striking Jenneiahn multiple times with a 9mm gun. He eventually succumbed to his wounds in the kitchen, while Jenneiahn, still handcuffed to the chair, was left on the floor for 10 agonizing hours until her son could bring her a phone to call the police. She was subsequently transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The crime scene told a chilling tale. Police discovered Condon’s abandoned car near the home, with footprints leading right to the house. On Condon’s body, they found a set of lock picks and a bag filled with some of Jenneiahn’s possessions.

Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley labeled the ordeal as a “justifiable homicide” under the Idaho criminal code, praising Jenneiahn’s bravery in the face of extreme danger.

He remarked, “Her grit, determination, and will to live appear to be what saved her that night.”

He further added, “Christine was justified in taking any and all means necessary to defend herself and her son that night.” This story serves as a stark reminder that the will to survive can be a powerful force against the deepest adversity.

Watch a local news report about the chilling incident below:

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