Found this digging online for family background stuff in Tampa’s Town 'n' Country area. John Dion Ridenour was 20, an only child, was shot by Jean Escartin / Jean Marie Lowe (20 at the time) in a crack house. Girlfriend of local dealer Jimmy (supplied the house), Jean claimed she was "joking" with loaded gun, pulled trigger "accidentally."
Victim's family wrote judge saying murder because he knew too much about drugs (house was dealer's spot, her BF Jimmy supplied). Said she had long criminal history already. Trial dragged over a year, messy with drug-world witnesses. While still on trial for John’s death, Jean was in a hit-and-run that killed another person.
Convicted manslaughter with firearm + leaving scene fatal accident. Got 12 years prison + probation, another 3.5 concurrent. Out in ~2 years.
John’s mom still posts memorials decades later. Jean? Active online - Disney trips, parties, GoFundMe’s.
Links: https://hover.hillsclerk.com (Case#: 89-CF-001529-A)
Anyone local remember? Thoughts on the light sentence?
