Victims speak out after Englewood man that held them hostage is sentenced to life in prison

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — A man has been sentenced to two life terms after being convicted of kidnapping a mother and daughter during a nearly 12-hour standoff in Port Charlotte, according to prosecutors.

The State Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that Jason Ritenour was found guilty on two counts of kidnapping following a three-day trial. He was sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender, resulting in enhanced penalties.

Prosecutors said that in 2023, Ritenour held the two women hostage inside their Englewood home, barricading himself with them overnight.

The standoff ended when one of the victims was allowed to step outside to retrieve a package Ritenour had demanded. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and the Sarasota County SWAT Team used that opportunity to enter the home and safely rescue the remaining victim.

The sentencing brings a sense of closure to both victims, who said they feared for their lives during the ordeal.

“I was in my bedroom on the phone when he came in, grabbed it, and dragged me into another room,” the mother said.

The incident began after an argument between Ritenour and the daughter, who had been dating him for about a month and a half at the time.

"I'd never been with somebody that was possessive or jealous or violent, and I didn't know what to do. I froze. And because of that, I feel very guilty for the stress that it's caused my mother and her mental issues with dementia, because stress brings that on. It just makes me think, had he had better mental health care, maybe something like this wouldn't have happened,"

The mother, despite the ordeal, expressed sympathy for Ritenour.

“I’m sorry it happened,” she said. “I’m sorry for him.”

With Ritenour now set to spend the rest of his life in prison, the victims say they hope he receives the help he needs—and that he can learn from his mistakes.