Ben Renick case: Inside the murder of the world-renowned snake breeder

Ben Renicka “rock star” of the world of reptiles, was found dead in June 2017. Investigators initially suspected that one of his precious snakes had killed him, but realized that something more heinous was responsible.

June 8, 2017:

Deadly snake bite?

In Montgomery County, Missouri, sheriff’s deputies were called to a snake breeding facility with more than 3,000 snakes and a man covered in blood. Deputies thought a deadly snake was free.

Ben Renick

Famous Missouri snake breeder Ben Renick was 29 when he was found dead on his farm.

Linley Renick

Ben’s wife, Lynly Renick, found Ben dead and called his brother, Sam Renick, for help. Sam was the one who told the researchers that a snake may have been responsible.

“More hated”

When medical examiner Dave Colbert arrived and looked around more carefully, he found calyxes. “When I saw this shell on the shelf just above his head, I knew it was not a snake,” he said. “This was something much more disgusting.”

The search for who might want Ben Renick dead and one of the focus was on Lynlee Renick.

2010: Renick Reptiles Inc.

Ben Renick was interested in snakes at a young age. Started by Renick Reptiles Inc. in 2010 and sold its snakes to buyers around the world, from the United Kingdom to Japan.

2011: Lovers and business owners

Ben and Lynlee met as teenagers and reunited in 2011. The couple married in 2014 and eventually had a child together. Lynlee Renick helped Ben set up the snake farm.

April 21, 2017: Snakes and spa

By 2017, Ben Renick had made a multimillion-dollar deal to sell some of his pythons and anacondas. Lynlee and Ben started a second business. It was a day spa called Ascensia Spa Inc., but the business, which Lynlee oversaw, was struggling financially. Facebook messages show that Ben and Lynlee were arguing over finances. He told Lynlee he had received support for loan payments, rents and staff payments.

May 17, 2017: Marriage problems

About three years after the marriage, Lynlee was unfaithful to Ben with at least two other men. Messages between the couple indicate that Ben was suspicious. The relationship was difficult.

May 23, 2017: Poisonous shake

Investigators will find out later that a month before Ben Renick was killed, Linley had made her first attempt to kill him. Lynlee had told a spa employee that Ben had been abused. Lynlee never filed a complaint with police about the alleged physical abuse. The colleague later told police she felt sorry for Lynlee and wanted to help her. They plotted to kill Ben by giving him a poisonous protein shake with 15 Percocet pills. Ben was very sick, but he survived. He had no idea he had been poisoned.

June 8, 2017: Suspicion

Investigators would find out about that first assassination attempt via the Percocet smoothie much later in the research.

In the days following Ben Renick’s murder, police questioned Lynlee. They checked her hands for gun debris, but the results were negative.

June 2017: Family, snakes and deals

The reptile community was shocked by Ben Renik’s death and wanted to help. They raised and donated money to support Ben’s family. Ben’s precious snakes were scattered and sold to various experts and reptile lovers.

June 21, 2017: The life of the widow

Almost two weeks after Ben Renick’s death, Lynlee was ready to sell the 72-acre Renick property. He was also going to inherit a multimillion-dollar life insurance policy. The investigators learned that Lynlee was the beneficiary of this life insurance policy. Witnesses told police Lynlee called the life insurance company a few days after Ben’s death to find out when she could make cash.

October 5, 2017: Cold scales

Lynlee Renick interviewed the researchers six times. On October 5, 2017, the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted a duplicator test. They informed Lynlee that she had failed. But investigators had no conclusive evidence that she had murdered Ben and left and remained a free woman for almost three years.

January 14, 2020: A tip for prison

A tip comes from a prison. The witness claims to have information about Ben Renik’s murder. He tells Missouri Patrol investigators that Lynlee shot Ben and that he had conspired with an old ex-boyfriend.

January 16, 2020: The snake breeder’s wife was arrested

Nearly three years after Ben Renick’s murder, Lynlee Renick and her ex-boyfriend Michael Humphrey were arrested for Ben’s murder. But after their arrest, Lynlee and Humphrey were both pointing fingers at each other. Who really pulled the trigger?

In:
• snake
• murder