Defense blames ex in murder of Montgomery County snake breeder

[ad_1]

Watch the first day of the trial live in the player below.

COLOMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Lawyers for a woman accused of killing her snake-herder husband in Montgomery County blamed Ben Renick’s death on his wife’s ex-boyfriend during opening statements in his murder trial on Monday.

The murder case against Lynlee Renick is heard in Boone County on a change of venue. The nine female and five male jury members, including the alternates, were brought in from Clay County this weekend.

Defense attorney Tim Hesemann in his opening statements said Lynlee Renick’s ex-boyfriend Michael Humphrey was solely responsible for the murder and was trying to save himself by blaming her. The defense admits that Lynlee Renick was with Humphrey and another woman accused of the murder – Ashley Shaw – the day Ben Renick was killed. However, Hesemann argued that Lynlee Renick was shocked by the murder and was not in the house when her husband was fatally shot.

Prosecutors say Shaw hatched a plan to kill Ben Renick for money after Lynlee Renick’s spa, where Shaw worked, began to struggle financially. They asked Humphrey, who has a history of drug addiction and violence, for help, prosecutor Kelly King said. Humphrey initially denied being involved before telling investigators Lynlee Renick pulled the trigger, King said.

After the opening statements, the state began calling witnesses, including the Renicks’ babysitter, a dispatcher, and a Montgomery County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Assistant.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

[ad_2]