Snake Breeder Found Dead — It Wasn't a Snake
In the world of exotic reptiles, Ben Renick was something of a legend. With more than 3,000 snakes and a clientele that spanned the globe, the Missouri-based breeder built a reptile empire. But on June 8, 2017, Renick was found dead in a pool of blood at his breeding facility, surrounded by the very animals he devoted his life to. At first, it seemed like a freak accident. The truth, however, was far more sinister.
A Deadly Discovery
When Ben's wife, Lynlee Renick, discovered his body, she immediately called his brother, Sam. Together, they dialed 911, initially believing that one of Ben's snakes had turned on him. As Sam told emergency responders, according to PEOPLE, "It had to have been a snake."
Ben was lying face down, his skull crushed. But when Coroner Dave Colbert arrived and spotted shell casings at the scene, the theory of a snake attack fell apart. This wasn't an animal incident. It was a homicide. Ben had been shot eight times, most of the bullets striking his back, with one at close range to his head.
The Snake Breeder's Secret World
Ben started Renick Reptiles Inc. in 2010 and was known globally for breeding rare pythons and anacondas. In 2017, he was negotiating a million-dollar deal for some of his prized snakes. But behind the scenes, things weren’t as picture-perfect as they seemed.
Lynlee, who co-managed the facility and ran her own struggling day spa, Ascensia Spa Inc., was under financial strain. According to CBS News, the couple had been arguing over money, and Facebook messages revealed tensions over unpaid loans and employee wages.
A Marriage in Trouble
Ben and Lynlee married in 2014, but by 2017 their relationship was unraveling. Lynlee was unfaithful, having affairs with at least two men. Investigators later learned she tried to poison Ben a month before his murder by lacing a protein shake with 15 Percocet pills. He became violently ill but survived, unaware of the attempt on his life.
The murder case stalled for nearly three years. Initially, suspicion fell on Sam, who was living on the property Ben planned to sell. But Sam fully cooperated, passed a polygraph, and tested negative for gun residue. Focus shifted back to Lynlee, especially after her coworker Ashley Shaw came forward, alleging Lynlee plotted to kill Ben and had confided in her about the poison attempt.
The Jailhouse Tip That Changed Everything
In 2020, the case took a turn when Brandon Blackwell, Lynlee's former boyfriend and fellow inmate, contacted police. Blackwell claimed Lynlee had confessed to conspiring with another ex, Michael Humphrey, to kill Ben. He alleged that Lynlee gave Humphrey gloves and a gun but ended up pulling the trigger herself.
Two days later, police arrested both Lynlee and Humphrey. Each pointed the finger at the other. At Humphrey's trial in October 2021, he was convicted of first-degree murder. Later, he agreed to testify against Lynlee, leading to his charge being reduced to second-degree murder.
During Lynlee's trial, Humphrey claimed he handed her the gun and that she fired it. Lynlee told a different story, alleging that Humphrey pulled the trigger and forced her to flee with him. The jury didn’t buy it. Lynlee was convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She received a 16-year sentence — 13 years for the murder and three years for the weapons charge.
Aftermath and Legacy
Ben’s death shook the reptile community. Friends and colleagues raised money for his family, and his rare snakes were sold to breeders around the world. But for those closest to him, the betrayal cut deepest.
"She really believed that she was gonna get away with all this," Sam Renick said on "48 Hours," according to PEOPLE. "And she really believed that she was gonna get what she had planned after murdering my brother."
Ben's life was as unique as the creatures he bred. But his murder serves as a grim reminder that sometimes, the real danger doesn't lurk in a tank or behind glass — it sleeps in the same bed.
References: Ben Renick Was Found in a Pool of Blood Surrounded by Rare Snakes. Inside the Reptile Breeder's Shocking Murder | Ben Renick case: A look at the murder of the world-renowned snake breeder
