Jury Seated In Ritenour Case

Alicia Ritenour

Oskaloosa, Iowa – A Mahaska County jury has been selected to hear the case of an Oskaloosa mother, Alicia Ritenour, accused of First Degree Murder, a Class “A” Felony, in the death of her 18 month-old daughter on January 24th of 2014.

Alicia Ritenour has also been charged with Child Endangerment Resulting in Death, a class “B” felony.

On Friday, January 24, 2014, at approximately 2:11pm, the Oskaloosa PD received a 911 call from Apartment 224 at the Southern Hills Apartment Complex, located at 18th Avenue East in Oskaloosa. Upon arriving at the scene Officers found Ava Ritenour, 18 months old, deceased.

An autopsy was performed at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on the body of Ava Ritneour on January 25 and 26, 2014 by Dr. Michele Catellier, who determined the cause of death to be trauma to the head. The manner of death will be classified as a homicide.

In a recent pre-trial hearing, Ritenour declined a plea offer from the State.

During the hearing, the court put into record a plea deal that had been submitted by the State to Ritenour. The State offered Attempted Murder, which is a Class “B” Felony. The second charge Child Endangerment Resulting in Death, a Class “B” Felony remained the same.

Ritenour’s attorney, Mike Adams, said that he and his client, Ritenour, discussed the pros and cons of the offer. “We have discussed the ramification of not taking that offer,” said Adams. “She does not want to take that offer.”

A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.