Lynlee Renick

Lynlee Renick was married to Benjamin “Ben” Renick, a successful reptile breeder who operated Renick Reptiles in New Florence, Missouri. Ben was well known internationally within the exotic reptile community and bred rare snakes that could be worth thousands of dollars.

The couple had two children and lived on the Renick family property. Lynlee also operated a spa business, but prosecutors later argued that the business was experiencing financial difficulties.

Their marriage had deteriorated before Ben's death. Investigators learned that Lynlee had been unfaithful with multiple men, while messages between the couple indicated that Ben was aware that their relationship was troubled.

Lynlee's only confirmed murder was the killing of her husband, Ben Renick.

On June 8, 2017, Lynlee contacted authorities after finding Ben lying in a pool of blood inside his snake-breeding facility. The facility contained thousands of exotic reptiles, and because a large snake was initially believed to be missing, responders initially considered the possibility that Ben had been attacked by one of his animals.

The theory quickly collapsed when investigators discovered shell casings. A coroner determined that Ben had been shot eight times, including a close-range gunshot wound to the head.

The investigation eventually focused on Lynlee and her former boyfriend, Michael Humphrey.

According to prosecutors, the killing followed an earlier failed attempt to poison Ben.

Witnesses testified that Lynlee had discussed poisoning her husband before turning to Humphrey for assistance. Prosecutors said Humphrey agreed to help with the shooting and that the pair went to Ben's reptile facility on June 8.

At trial, Humphrey testified that Lynlee ultimately took the gun and shot Ben herself. Other prosecution evidence indicated that Lynlee had planned the killing and later attempted to conceal her involvement.

The precise sequence was disputed because both Lynlee and Humphrey ultimately blamed each other for the shooting.

The investigation initially failed to produce enough evidence to arrest Lynlee.

She was questioned repeatedly and underwent a polygraph examination in October 2017. Investigators told her that she had failed the test, but they did not have sufficient evidence to charge her at that stage. She remained free while the investigation went cold.

Nearly three years after Ben's murder, investigators received information from Brandon Blackwell, another former boyfriend of Lynlee's. Blackwell told authorities that Lynlee had confessed to him and implicated herself and Humphrey in the killing.

Lynlee and Humphrey were arrested in January 2020 and charged with Ben's murder.

Michael Humphrey was tried first and convicted of first-degree murder. After his conviction, he cooperated with prosecutors and testified against Lynlee.

At Lynlee's 2021 trial, the prosecution argued that she had a financial motive to kill Ben. Prosecutors said her spa business was struggling, she stood to benefit from a $1 million life-insurance policy, and she feared losing custody of the children if the marriage ended.

Lynlee testified in her own defence. She denied planning Ben's murder and claimed that Humphrey had shot him. She said she had gone to the reptile facility because she wanted protection while asking Ben for a divorce.

The jury rejected her account and found her guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in December 2021. The jury recommended 13 years for murder and three years for armed criminal action.

In January 2022, the court imposed consecutive sentences totalling 16 years in prison.

The case initially became notorious because investigators thought Ben might have been killed by one of his own snakes. The reptile facility contained more than 3,000 snakes, including rare and valuable animals, and first responders entered the building while concerned that a large snake could still be loose. The discovery of a shell casing quickly established that Ben had been shot rather than killed by a reptile.

Prosecutors presented the killing as a planned murder motivated by a combination of financial problems, marital conflict and Lynlee's desire to avoid the consequences of divorce. They argued that she wanted access to Ben's life insurance and was concerned about losing her children.

Lynlee's former boyfriend Michael Humphrey was convicted of first-degree murder and received life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. His testimony was central to the prosecution's case against Lynlee.

Lynlee maintained that Humphrey was responsible for the shooting and testified that she had not wanted Ben to die. The jury nevertheless convicted her of the lesser charge of second-degree murder rather than the first-degree murder charge originally brought against her.

The case has been featured extensively by 48 Hours, Dateline, Court TV and other true-crime programs.

Sources:

• Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
• Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Boone County Circuit Court
• Missouri Department of Corrections
• Renick Reptiles
• 48 Hours
• Dateline NBC
• Court TV
• CBS News
• Associated Press