On Wednesday, May 14th, a Davidson County Criminal Court Jury handed down two GUILTY verdicts against 31-year-old James Ritenour, including First Degree Premeditated Murder, which carries an automatic life sentence. Ritenour was found guilty of killing 29-year-old Alexis Douglas and wounding her 29-year-old boyfriend, Gene Fernandez in Douglas’ Donelson apartment in December of 2020 in a fit of jealous rage.
The second guilty verdict was for Premeditated Attempted First Degree Murder for the shooting of Fernandez. Sentencing on that conviction will be in August.
Gene Fernandez took the stand in the trial, pointing out the killer in Judge Jennifer Smith’s Division IV courtroom. Fernandez and his family, along with the relatives of Alexis Douglas were overcome with emotion following the verdict, hugging the DA’s prosecution team, lead by Assistant District Attorneys Debbie Housel and Elizabeth Huertas, as well as Victim Witness Coordinator Susan Tucker Smith.
Ritenour will begin serving his life sentence immediately.
