Missouri Snake Breeder Dead at Wife's Hand

In a case that left even seasoned investigators stunned, a Missouri spa owner named Lynlee Renick plotted the cold-blooded murder of her husband in order to claim his lucrative assets. Ben Renick, a well-known snake breeder, was initially believed to have been killed by one of his reptiles — a theory that unraveled under closer scrutiny. Instead, Lynlee's deadly scheme, motivated by a million-dollar life insurance policy and ownership of the couple's snake farm, shocked their small community.

A Suspicious Death at the Snake Farm

Ben Renick was a pioneer in the snake breeding industry, known and respected worldwide for his work. His business, which housed between 3,000 and 4,000 snakes, was thriving and brought him recognition as a leader in his field.

On June 8, 2017, Lynlee told police she was at the spa she owned when she received a call that Ben had not picked up their children as planned. Concerned, she collected the kids and went to the snake facility to search for him. At 6:36 p.m., she called 911 to report finding Ben's body lying in a pool of blood.

The situation unnerved responding officers, given the sheer number of reptiles housed on-site. The initial assumption was that Ben's death might have been caused by one of the facility's snakes, as there were two puncture-like wounds on his arm. However, this theory was quickly debunked when investigators found shell casings beneath Ben's body. He had been shot six times from behind, including a fatal shot to the back of his head, and the coroner determined he likely died within two hours of Lynlee's call to 911.

Lynlee appeared cooperative when questioned by police, even suggesting her brother-in-law, Sam Renick, as a possible suspect. She claimed Sam was bitter over inheriting nothing from their father's estate, which left the farm and family business solely to Ben. Police, however, confirmed Sam's alibi and ruled him out as a suspect, leaving more questions than answers.

Money, Infidelity, and a Murder Plot

Financial problems and marital discord loomed large in the Renick household. Lynlee's spa business was on the brink of bankruptcy, including thousands of dollars in unpaid business loans, which Ben had been covering. This financial stress reportedly created tension in their marriage. The couple's life insurance policy, valued at $1 million, offered a solution.

Within hours of Ben's death, Lynlee attempted to cash out the $1 million life insurance policy — a move that raised red flags for both the insurance company and law enforcement, as reported by Oxygen. Additionally, Lynlee began making plans to sell the farm and Ben's thriving reptile business, prompting Ben's brother Sam to take legal action to halt the sale.

In addition, investigators uncovered text messages on Lynlee's phone revealing frequent contact with Michael Humphrey, an ex-boyfriend, on the day of the murder — and no contact at all after that. Humphrey would later be identified as her accomplice in the crime, playing a pivotal role in its execution.

Other messages revealed Lynlee's infidelity with Brandon Blackwell, which she admitted to during questioning. Despite Blackwell's alibi ruling him out as a suspect, the texts highlighted the turmoil and secrecy in Lynlee's personal life.

An Affair and a Betrayal

Lynlee and Blackwell moved in together after Lynlee successfully sold the farm for $740,000 — a move that devastated Sam, who fought unsuccessfully to prevent the sale. "I lost a farm that my family spent 40 years maintaining," Sam later said, as reported by Oxygen.

However, Lynlee's relationship with Blackwell quickly soured. By 2019, she filed a restraining order against him, and his subsequent arrest for violating it led to a startling twist. While in jail, Blackwell revealed to police that Lynlee had confessed to attempting to kill Ben weeks before the murder, as reported by Oxygen. According to Blackwell, Lynlee's co-worker, Ashley Shaw, had provided Percocet to poison Ben, but the attempt only made him sick. Lynlee then sought help finishing the job from ex-boyfriend Michael Humphrey, which aligned with evidence found in her text records.

Humphrey, arrested shortly after Blackwell's confession, claimed Lynlee manipulated him with false stories of abuse and requested his help — he provided her with a gun. He recounted how Lynlee brought the gun to Ben's snake facility, where she ultimately pulled the trigger herself, as he watched in shock. "I turned around as soon as the first shot rang. I ran out the door. I heard probably another one, maybe two," Humphrey told police in a recorded interview, according to Oxygen. "And by that time I'm standing by the car asking her, 'What the [explitive] just happened?'"

Ashley Shaw, in exchange for immunity, corroborated these claims, as reported by Oxygen. She admitted to helping Lynlee plan the murder and establishing an alibi by sending texts from Lynlee's phone during the crime. This new evidence led to Lynlee's arrest on Jan. 16, 2020 — more than 2.5 years after Ben's death.

Legal Proceedings

Michael Humphrey, initially sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in the crime, was offered a deal: If he agreed to testify against Lynlee, his sentence would be reduced from first-degree murder to second degree with possibility of parole. As reported by the Columbian Missourian, Humphrey took the deal.

In the dramatic trial that followed, Lynlee insisted Humphrey pulled the trigger, not her. However, the jury didn't buy her defense. In December 2021, Lynlee was convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action, receiving only a 16-year prison sentence for killing her husband.

A Community Left Reeling

Ben Renick's murder devastated not only his family but also the reptile-breeding community, where he was widely admired for his expertise. As the details of Lynlee's greed-driven crime came to light, her actions served as a grim reminder of how far some will go for money and control.

References: A snake is eyed as the culprit in man's death until cops realize it can't pull a trigger | Woman Murdered Husband For Farm, Million Dollar Life Insurance Policy | Lynlee Renick drops appeal of her conviction in snake dealer's death