Lynlee Renick

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode Summary: Lynlee Renick

Release Date: July 6, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the tragic and complex case of Lynlee Renick, a woman whose life spiraled from a seemingly perfect marriage to the cold-blooded murder of her husband, Ben Renick. This detailed account explores the intricate web of relationships, financial struggles, and hidden affairs that ultimately led to the unraveling of Lynlee’s facade.

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Background: Ben and Lynlee Renick

Ben Renick was a renowned snake breeder in Montgomery County, Missouri, who built a successful business, Renick Reptiles, specializing in rare and designer snakes. Born in 1987, Ben grew up on a 40-acre family farm alongside his brother, Sam Renick. Despite a challenging childhood marked by their mother's battle with stage four breast cancer and their father's subsequent suicide in 2012, Ben forged a path toward success in the exotic pet industry.

In 2011, Ben reconnected with Lynlee Jo Gallatin, a 23-year-old massage school graduate from Wellsville, Missouri, who had recently become a single mother. Their relationship quickly blossomed, leading Lynlee to move into Ben's family farm and collaborate closely on his reptile business. By 2014, Ben and Lynlee were married, and their partnership extended beyond personal into professional realms as Lynlee opened a sensia spa in nearby Columbia in 2016, further solidifying their prosperous life together.

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The Murder: June 8, 2017

On a seemingly peaceful summer evening, Lynlee Renick made a frantic 911 call:

Lynlee Renick [02:33]: "911, with the address Hamm Emergency."

Investigators initially suspected a snake attack at Ben's vast breeding facility, which housed between three and four thousand snakes. However, upon arrival, first responders discovered Ben's body covered in blood, with significant gunshot wounds indicating a clear homicide:

Ben Renick [05:16]: "He'd been shot in the back several times and then ultimately shot in the back of the head."

Further examination revealed shell casings and divots in the floor, suggesting Ben was shot multiple times after hitting the ground. Shockingly, the idea that a snake could have caused such injuries was swiftly dismissed by the EMTs on scene.

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Initial Investigation and Family Dynamics

The investigation quickly shifted focus from potential animal attacks to human involvement. Sam Renick, Ben's brother, and Lynlee were scrutinized. During interviews, Sam expressed disbelief that Ben was murdered, emphasizing Ben's likable nature:

Sam Renick [05:54]: "Everyone loved Ben."

Despite their initial shock, investigators uncovered underlying tensions within the Renick family, particularly regarding their father's past mismanagement of a pet food company, which had left lingering debts and potential motives related to investment fraud.

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Financial Struggles and Relationship Strain

As Ben's reptile business thrived, Lynlee faced financial pressures with her spa, leading to significant strain in their marriage. Text and social media analyses revealed:

Sam Renick [09:33]: "Ben was having to front a lot of bills for Lynlee's spa. This created a really big wedge between the two."

Ben's concerns about Lynlee’s financial management and possible infidelity began to surface. Lynlee's constant involvement in both businesses, coupled with mounting debts, created a volatile environment ripe for conflict.

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Lynlee's Affairs and Suspicious Behavior

Investigators discovered that Lynlee was involved in multiple extramarital affairs, which became a pivotal aspect of the case. Initial suspects included Eric Bremer, a marketing professional, and later, Brandon Blackwell, a local man she reconnected with shortly before the murder. Both provided alibis that initially cleared them of suspicion.

However, a breakthrough came when Lynlee’s communications revealed deeper financial desperation and manipulation. Her relationship with Brandon Blackwell evolved into a controlling and abusive partnership, further complicating her motives and actions.

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The Arrest and Trial

Months after the murder, significant evidence pointed towards Lynlee. Her aggressive attempts to cash in on Ben's life insurance policy shortly after his death and the sudden sale of the Renick family farm raised red flags. In January 2020, after inconsistencies in her statements and mounting evidence, Lynlee was arrested.

During the trial, key testimonies emerged:

Ashley Shaw [38:34]: "She was the one that came, got the Percocets. She was the one who also helped find Michael Humphrey for this as well. She was right there with Lynlee the entire time to try to set all of this up."

Despite Lynlee's defense claiming self-defense and blaming Michael Humphrey, her accomplice, Ashley Shaw, testified against her, detailing their calculated plans to murder Ben using narcotics and firearms.

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Verdict and Aftermath

After a tense four-day trial, Lynlee Renick was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 16 years in prison:

Sam Renick [43:13]: "I believe that greed is what killed my brother. Lynlee's greed. She knew that the farm was in Ben's name and he just took out a $1 million life insurance policy."

The sentence, though significant, felt insufficient to Sam and Ben's children, leaving a lingering sense of injustice. Lynlee continues to maintain her innocence, while lingering legal battles and emotional scars persist within the Renick family.

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Conclusion

The Lynlee Renick case serves as a haunting reminder of how financial pressures and personal betrayals can culminate in tragic violence. This episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder expertly weaves together the complexities of familial love, business struggles, and the dark side of human relationships, offering listeners a compelling narrative of intrigue and justice.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sam Renick [06:18]: "It's unique growing up on a farm. I think Ben might have been 12 years old when he got his first snake."

• Ben Renick [08:18]: "We will hopefully be able to produce sunflower tiger titaniums that are also albino."

• Sam Renick [10:30]: "Ben was really happy to be finally married to Lynlee and started life together."

• Lynlee Renick [16:28]: "What may have happened."

• Ashley Shaw [25:30]: "Ashley Shaw is the business manager. She's a very organized person who is trying to keep this business on track. She's very close with Lynlee."

• Sam Renick [43:13]: "I believe that greed is what killed my brother. Lynlee's greed."

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Reflections

The Lynlee Renick episode underscores the intricate layers of human behavior and the devastating impact of deceit and greed. For listeners, it offers a profound exploration of how seemingly stable lives can hide dark secrets, leading to irreversible consequences.

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For those seeking to understand the depths of human motives and the pursuit of justice, this episode provides a thorough and emotionally charged narrative that resonates long after the last word is heard.

Transcript

[Ben Renick]

There's one authority on this boat, and it's me.

[Sam Renick]

Chart a course for excellence.

[Ben Renick]

The better we do, the bigger the tip.

[Lynley Renick]

And everybody loves a good tip.

[Ben Renick]

New season.

[Michael Humphrey]

Here we go, boys and girls, here we go.

[Ashley Shaw]

New destination.

[Investigator]

Welcome to Sunnyside Martin.

[Ashley Shaw]

This first class crew.

[Sam Renick]

Love it.

[Michael Humphrey]

No, no, no, no.

[Ben Renick]

I'm shaking.

[Ashley Shaw]

Serves five star drama.

[Ben Renick]

I've got a guest that's very violent and I've got to get her off the boat. What have I signed myself up to?

[Ashley Shaw]

All new below deck Tuesdays Bravo on Peacock.

[Narrator]

This friend group is a beautiful hot mess.

[Ashley Shaw]

You know, their parents, our moms weren't housewives.

[Investigator]

We can handle our own.

[Ashley Shaw]

Now this group of friends is going big and making New York City their home.

[Investigator]

Absolutely petrified.

[Ben Renick]

Actually, everyone in this group is gonna say what they're thinking.

[Investigator]

This is so stupid.

[Ben Renick]

Oh my God.

[Investigator]

I really don't want them to sleep together.

[Lynley Renick]

That would be disgusting and horrible. Ugh.

[Investigator]

I love being Messy.

[Ashley Shaw]

Next Gen NYC. Every Tuesday at 9 on Bravo and streaming on Peacock.

[Investigator]

A renowned Missouri snake breeder is found dead.

[Michael Humphrey]

He got killed by a snake.

[Lynley Renick]

By a snake.

[EMT]

It could have been a snake that's loose in the facility. The facility had somewhere between three and 4,000 snakes. It's a little unnerving.

[Ashley Shaw]

He is on the ground in the barn covered in blood.

[Investigator]

Until investigators find something more sinister, slightly slithering about.

[Detective]

There was legitimate concern and we have to vet all the information that we get to get to the truth.

[Investigator]

To get justice for this father of two, investigators must sort through potential motives.

[Ashley Shaw]

He was very successful. He had cash around all these valuable snakes.

[Ben Renick]

There may still be investors in Frank Granite's past business. They were still upset with the family.

[Investigator]

But ultimately the source of the venom is found close to home.

[Ben Renick]

We began to learn that their relationship wasn't quite as good as she said it was.

[Detective]

We kind of operated under the guys. If you have nothing to hide, you hide nothing.

[Michael Humphrey]

She says. I'm gonna leave him. I just need to go and get my stuff.

[Sam Renick]

She covered up her actions and lied countlessly. She was not willing to walk.

[Investigator]

Nestled in between St. Louis and Columbia, Montgomery County, Missouri is a quiet stop along i70. But on June 8, 2017 at 6:36pm 911 operators receive a frantic call from 29 year old Lynley Renick that shatters the calm of the otherwise peaceful summer evening.

[Lynley Renick]

911 with the address Hamm Emergency.

[Michael Humphrey]

On.

[Ben Renick]

The ground and there's blood everywhere.

[Michael Humphrey]

Okay, do you know what happened to him?

[Ben Renick]

Okay, hold on just a second while.

[Investigator]

We get somebody There, hysterical. Lyndley passes the phone to her brother in law Sam who says they just found his 29 year old brother Ben dead at his rare snake breeding facility. Renick reptiles.

[Lynley Renick]

What may have happened.

[Michael Humphrey]

He got killed by snake.

[Lynley Renick]

By a snake.

[Michael Humphrey]

He raises large 500 pound snakes. Do you know where the snake is? I don't know where the snake is.

[Lynley Renick]

Okay, so he's not breathing at all?

[Michael Humphrey]

No, he's cold, even blue.

[Sam Renick]

In that moment I think I was in a state of shock probably for that. And some time after.

[Investigator]

As Montgomery county first responders rush to the scene, they're on high alert.

[EMT]

When we got the call that there was a man dead, it was suspected that it could have been a snake that loose in the facility. The facility has somewhere between three and four thousand snakes. So it's a little unnerving not knowing exactly what you're going to walk in on.

[Investigator]

EMTs and deputies arrive at Renick reptiles.

[Ashley Shaw]

This is a large barn, two different stories, concrete floor with rows and rows and rows of plastic bins. And in each and every one of these bins is a different snake.

[Investigator]

Sam Renick directs them to the facility's entrance. They proceed with caution to the back of the barn where they find his brother Ben.

[Ashley Shaw]

Ben is on the ground in the barn covered in blood. His face and his skull looks deformed.

[EMT]

The MT went checking for signs of life when they rolled the body over. Underneath the right armpit was a shell casing.

[Investigator]

It's clear to investigators that this kind of damage wasn't ca by a snake.

[Ben Renick]

He'd been shot in the back several times and then ultimately shot in the back of the head.

[EMT]

It was at that point they realized that there was no doubt it was a homicide.

[Investigator]

Investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff and Missouri State Highway Patrol arrive on the scene. They find Sam and Lindley outside, both having just learned that Ben's death wasn't an accident.

[Sam Renick]

I thought that perhaps he was attacked by one of the snakes, but the coroner let me know that this was not a snake attack. That Ben was in fact murdered by a gun. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't believe it. Everyone loved Ben.

[EMT]

Lindley was wailing and screaming and things in the car. I got her to calm down enough where she understood what I needed and asked if they could get her down to Montgomery county for an interview.

[Investigator]

Born in 1987, Ben Renick grew up in Montgomery County, Missouri on a 40 acre family farm with his brother Sam.

[Sam Renick]

It's unique growing up on a farm. I think Ben might have been 12 years old when he got his first snake.

[Ben Renick]

I would go to his house after school and his family was just always super warm and welcoming. The nicest people he could ever meet.

[Investigator]

Despite the idyllic country setting, Ben's childhood was far from perfect.

[Sam Renick]

When I were young children, my mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Ben and I, we took care of ourselves, took care of each other.

[Investigator]

In 2008, when Ben was 21 years old, his mother ultimately lost her battle to cancer.

[Sam Renick]

My mother was a fighter. She stayed in stage four for 50, 15 years. She taught Ben and I a lot. Resilience, self sufficiency, love.

[Investigator]

The loss devastated Ben's family, especially his father. In 2012, four years after his wife's death, Frank Renick took his own life.

[Sam Renick]

It was tough seeing my family struggle as much as they did, but my father loved me, loved my mother more than anything. He had the farm set in Ben's name as a sole owner for a number of reasons. One of them being I was getting divorced and I didn't need to have any of those assets in my name.

[Investigator]

On their own, the young men looked toward the future for Ben. By around 22 years old, he knew what he wanted.

[Sam Renick]

He really wasn't aiming towards college. After school he went full fledged with his reptile business.

[Investigator]

Ben converted a barn on the farm into a world class snake breeding facility.

[Ben Renick]

We will hopefully be able to produce sunflower tiger titaniums that are also albino.

[Sam Renick]

Ben was really going for the designer pet aspect of the snake breeding. He was looking for the genetic patterns that nobody else had that were rarer.

[Investigator]

As his reptile business was taking off, 24 year old Ben reconnected with an old friend, 23 year old Lindley Jo Gallatin.

[Sam Renick]

Ben and Lynley went to two different high schools. You know, she was familiar with him and they got together. She was sweet, she was bubbly.

[Investigator]

Born in 1988, Lynley grew up in in nearby Wellsville. Like Ben, Lynley also knew what it was like to lose a parent.

[Sam Renick]

Her mother was ill in her early life and had passed. Her father took very good care of her.

[Investigator]

After graduating from high school, 19 year old Lynley attended massage school.

[Ashley Shaw]

The day that she was supposed to sit down for her board examination is the day she found out she was pregnant. Lindley Renick has a son with a man. And essentially Lindley is left to raise this child on her own.

[Investigator]

When she started Seeing Ben in 2011, the relationship moved quickly.

[Sam Renick]

Lindley and her son moved into the house that he Built out in the family farm, and Ben kind of went right into fatherhood. Soon after that, they had their first child together.

[Investigator]

Lynley temporarily set her own career aside to help Ben grow his business.

[Lynley Renick]

We are at the beginning of our hatching season.

[Ashley Shaw]

Lynley gave up a lot of her time as well to help Ben. Lynlee was very deeply a part of the business.

[Ben Renick]

Ben was a successful snake breeder, and he was kind of a pioneer in that whole industry. He was definitely very well known in the snake breeding community, Like, I would say, worldwide.

[Investigator]

In 2014, Ben and Lyndley married.

[Sam Renick]

You know, Ben was really happy to be finally married to lynley and started life together.

[Investigator]

By 2016, two years into their marriage, with the reptile business booming, the happy couple was ready to attempt another venture. Lynley opened a sensia spa in nearby colombia.

[Sam Renick]

Bitten did make some large investments in the spa initially to get things up and running.

[Investigator]

With two successful businesses and two beautiful children, Lynley and Ben had it all.

[Sam Renick]

They worked together on building her a business, and they looked to be in a good position to be successful. It was a happy time.

[Investigator]

But on June 8, 2017, their promising future comes undone When Lindley and Sam find Ben dead inside the snake barn.

[Ben Renick]

The early information that Sam had given twas he believed it to be a snake, but that was quickly ruled out by EMTs on scene through the presence of gunshot wounds in Ben's body.

[Sam Renick]

I did talk with the police. They took me in, and I had to drop my two children and Ben's two children off of this poor babysitter and ask her to hold them.

[Investigator]

With lynley and sam. On the way to the station, investigators head inside the barn and take a careful look at the crime scene.

[Ben Renick]

There were some shell casings that were underneath Ben's body, But we also discovered divots.

[Investigator]

The small indentations in the floor show that Ben was shot several times after he hit the floor.

[Ben Renick]

Those divots matched up directly with him being shot while he was on the ground and those bolts traveling through his body and striking the tile below him.

[Investigator]

It'S clear that whoever killed Ben wasn't leaving until they were sure he was dead.

[Ben Renick]

We found four or five shell casings. With the damage that was done to Ben's body, We took that to account.

[Detective]

There was legitimate concern, and we have to vet all the information that we get to get to the truth.

[Investigator]

Coming up, did a family feud turn deadly?

[Ashley Shaw]

She said maybe it would be better for their family to live elsewhere. This doesn't go over well with him.

[Investigator]

Or does the key to solving this case lie in another long buried secret?

[Sam Renick]

My father mismanaged that company and he had defrauded a number of people out of a Investments.

[Investigator]

On June 8, 2017, Missouri investigators are on the scene at a rare snake breeding facility where owner 29 year old Ben Renick has just been found shot to death inside.

[EMT]

The concern about a snake on a loose that could have caused this was squashed when we found the shell casing and realized he had been shot.

[Investigator]

The coroner determines Ben was shot eight times from behind with the majority of the bullets coming after he hit the ground. He likely died within two hours of the call to 911.

[EMT]

The way Ben was found looked like he had just been doing his work and been interrupted.

[Investigator]

Investigators consider whether Ben was shot in a robbery gone wrong.

[Detective]

There was no per se gated security that would prohibit or inhibit access to the facility. So it was just open door. Ben had large amounts of cash in the facility at different given times. And so there was a theory that maybe this was a robbery that went bad.

[Investigator]

With the hope of learning more, investigators head to the station and turn their attention to the 911 callers. Ben's wife Lynley and his brother Sam. They start by interviewing Lynley.

[Ashley Shaw]

Lynley said that she spent the day working in Columbia at the spa.

[Michael Humphrey]

What time was the last time you spoke with him?

[Lynley Renick]

3:45. He said he's so good for kids. Denies or do I need to? I said I need you to. I'm not going to be able to leave right now.

[Michael Humphrey]

So this was a text conversation?

[Lynley Renick]

Yeah.

[Investigator]

As Lynley prepared to head back home around 6pm she made an alarming discovery.

[Ashley Shaw]

The school had called and said Ben hasn't shown up to pick up your children.

[Investigator]

Unable to reach Ben, Lynley says she rushed to get the kids and head back home.

[Lynley Renick]

When I got home and I tried to go Ben, he wasn't answering. He's never forgotten them. So it just kind of gave me a bad feeling. So I was like okay, will you guys stay in the car? And I walked in the facility and there was this kid walking around looking for him. Then I saw laying in the ground, there was a lot of bloody, just to race out.

[Ben Renick]

The first person she called was Sam Renick, not 911. She called Sam because he was already on the property.

[Lynley Renick]

They couldn't understand what I was saying. And Sam got there, then he was like what's going on? Is it Ben? And I was like yes, it's Ben. And then he went inside.

[Investigator]

Still considering the possibility of a burglary, investigators ask Lyndley about her husband's business.

[Michael Humphrey]

Do you see anybody, you know, being upset? Would have been to the point where that may happen. Wholesaler.

[Lynley Renick]

I don't. Then help whatever you have to do to make your customers happy.

[Ben Renick]

Seems she was very forthcoming. She wanted to help.

[Michael Humphrey]

Was there any family issues?

[Lynley Renick]

Yeah, from there, dad shopping. Folks, the way that everything was set up, Ben and I actually own all of the property. Sam kind of basically just went to Ben and he was like, you need to give me half of the property. I was like, no, I can't jeopardize my family and this business. And so, you know, he just said a lot of, like, really hurtful things to Ben.

[Investigator]

After learning of Ben and Sam's rocky relationship, investigators are eager to sit down with Sam next.

[Michael Humphrey]

Probably the easiest way to do this is just for you to tell us in your own words what occurred. About 6:45, Lily calls, screaming, Jesus, there goes. And I find him. And when I find him, at first, I bet he got killed by a stink. So I don't really know what I'm looking at. But I did talk to the coroner and don't even shut. I couldn't have imagined something like that happening in my wildest dreams.

[Investigator]

With Lindley's claims in mind, they asked ask Sam about the family farm.

[Michael Humphrey]

How many acres are at the farm? It's 80 acres. Were you surprised when it was left of them? Well, yes. It wasn't an equal inheritance, but it is what it is. Life's not fair, but I can't afford the farm. That's an expensive place to live.

[Investigator]

Uncertain if Sam is holding back, investigators quickly cut to the chase.

[Michael Humphrey]

Sam, did you have anything to do with the veteran? No. Anything at all? Nobody would know anyone that would. That would kill him. Everyone really liked it, and it was nice.

[Ben Renick]

We seized his shirt from that day. We did a download of his phone.

[Detective]

The decision was made to polygraph Sam to see if he had any knowledge or involvement.

[Investigator]

As Sam's polygraph is being scheduled, investigators ask Lindley to meet them back at the farm.

[Ben Renick]

We actually had Lindley do somewhat of an inventory on the snakes. She didn't believe any snakes were missing.

[Investigator]

They find no proof of missing cash either.

[Ashley Shaw]

Nothing is stolen. Nothing looks obviously broken into. Robbery gets taken off the table.

[Investigator]

Days later, Sam takes the polygraph.

[Ben Renick]

Sam Rena came down to Jefferson City and submitted to a polygraph examination. And he passed the polygraph test. He deeply cared about final resolution to this case.

[Investigator]

Investigators are also able to confirm Sam's alibi.

[Ben Renick]

He wasn't able to physically be there when he was at work. We confirmed that a couple different ways.

[Investigator]

With Sam ruled out and robbery off the table, investigators press Sam for a new lead. Although he continues to insist that his brother didn't have any enemies, he admits that their late father did.

[Sam Renick]

My father started his own pet food company in Montgomery County. He mismanaged that company, and he had defrauded a number of people out of Investments.

[Ashley Shaw]

In 2012, a federal grand jury indicted Frank Renick on fraud charges. Essentially that he was taken investors money, not putting it into the business, and essentially paying off previous investors to the company that he was running. Shortly after that federal indictment came out, Frank Renick committed suicide.

[Ben Renick]

There may still be investors that were still upset with the Renick family. That was a path we were going to have to go down.

[Investigator]

Investigators obtain a search warrant and start looking at Ben's social media accounts for any potential threats.

[EMT]

So there were some thoughts that it could be tied to that in some way, that there could be someone angry at the family or wanting to get revenge for what had happened, some money they had lost that was definitely looked at.

[Investigator]

Investigators find nothing from social media to back this theory up. However, they do find evidence of a marriage in turmoil.

[Ben Renick]

Lindley and Ben communicated with Facebook message just as much as they did with text. I read through all the Facebook messages on both their accounts and Ben gave an idea, although he never specifically would say it, that she was cheating on him. He would bring up concerns about her being on her phone or her going to the bathroom with her phone. I had started to put together that Lindley may be having an affair.

[Investigator]

Coming up, out of a hunch, detectives find fact.

[Ben Renick]

They met on a dating site.

[Investigator]

And the secrets don't stop there.

[Ashley Shaw]

Ben was having to front a lot of bills. This created a really big wedge.

[Narrator]

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[Michael Humphrey]

This is your captain speaking. You are currently blindfolded somewhere over Europe.

[Sam Renick]

Tuesday on NBC. Destination X Follow contestants on the trip of a lifetime.

[Michael Humphrey]

You're traveling with no map, no plan, only your instincts and a few clues. To win a quarter of a million dollars, all you have to do is answer one simple question. Where the X am I?

[Sam Renick]

Destination X Hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Tuesday on NBC. And Peacock.

[Investigator]

Weeks after the murder of well known snake breeder Ben Renick, Missouri investigators are combing through Ben and Lindley's social media and text messages when they find evidence of a tumultuous marriage.

[Ben Renick]

I had 20,000 plus pages of Facebook messages and then all of their text conversations. We began to learn that her and Ben's relationship wasn't quite as good as she said it was.

[Detective]

We kind of operated under the guys. If you have nothing to hide, you hide nothing. It kind of makes you suspicious on what else she's withholding from investigators.

[Investigator]

Detectives decide it's time to speak with Lindley again.

[Ben Renick]

I was candid about it and asked if she was having an affair or a romantic relationship. And that's when she explained to me that she was seeing someone else. It was a local person there that helped with her business from time to time and that they would meet approximately twice a month.

[Ashley Shaw]

He was a marketing professional that was trying to help the spa named Eric Bremer.

[Ben Renick]

She stated at that time that was the only affair she was having and she apologized for not telling me about it the first time.

[Investigator]

Following the interview, investigators check in with Eric.

[Ben Renick]

He had an alibi. He was on a trip with friends and from that point forward we didn't believe that Eric was involved in the homicide.

[Investigator]

Curious if Lindley's affair with Eric might not be the only one. They subpoena her phone record.

[Ben Renick]

I spent a lot of time going over those and there was a pattern that developed with her and an associated phone Number.

[Investigator]

Investigators trace the number to 34 year old Brandon Blackwell.

[Ben Renick]

I traveled to Brandon's work and had a candid conversation with him and he explained to me that they'd met on a dating site. Brandon was very open and honest and forthcoming with me about his relationship with Lindley. He conceded that they had started a sexual affair. Turned out it was just three days before the murder.

[Investigator]

But like Lindley's first lover, he also offers up an airtight alibi.

[Ben Renick]

He worked for a secure power plant type company. It was very easy to determine if he was at work.

[Investigator]

On June 19, 2017, 11 days after Ben's murder, investigators request that 29 year old Lynlee come back in so they can ask to look at her texts.

[Ben Renick]

She consented to that. I found text messages from the day of the homicide with her and a Mike H. They talked the whole day of the murder and then they hadn't talked since. Who's Mike H.

[Lynley Renick]

Michael Humphrey. He is a client. I actually used to work on.

[Sam Renick]

This.

[Lynley Renick]

Just kind of a random. Out of the blue, my manager, Ashley had asked me if I knew anybody who did car audio work. I'm like, well, I do.

[Detective]

Lindley actually talked about him. Michael used to work at a business that installed stereo equipment.

[Lynley Renick]

He had mentioned that he had heard one of the spa advertisements, wanted to get a massage, so started talking about coming up that way. Ashley really wants work done on her car.

[Ashley Shaw]

Ashley Shaw is the business manager. She's a very organized person who is trying to keep this business on track. She's very close with Lindley.

[Michael Humphrey]

Is there anybody we've talked about today that you know? Absolutely wouldn't have had anything to do with what happened to Ben.

[Lynley Renick]

I mean, I think most of the people have been talked about today or.

[Ben Renick]

She seemed slightly taken aback with us asking more questions about Michael. And I realized I needed to learn a little bit more about Mike. I was able to set up a meeting with Michael.

[Investigator]

On July 17, 2017, Michael arrives for his interview.

[Ben Renick]

Okay, like I said, we're talking about landlady and I kind of just want to know how y' all know each other.

[Michael Humphrey]

We dated way back when and stuff.

[Ben Renick]

How'd y' all get hooked back up this time?

[Michael Humphrey]

They actually were driving through one day there to trailer park and see me. How long had it been? Like seven years, probably since I'd seen her. Yeah.

[Ashley Shaw]

He also says Lindley had come and reconnected with him because Ashley Shaw wanted some stereo work done. And he decided why not?

[EMT]

There's plenty of places to go to get Car stereos put in and some boyfriend you haven't seen in 10 years that you knew could do it. Nothing about that was making sense to me.

[Investigator]

Despite their suspicions, investigators release Michael and concentrate on the messages between Lindley and Ben.

[Ben Renick]

A lot of that was them fighting about money or the relationship. We learned that Lindley was not paying her business loan on time. She owed an Electric Co. $5,000. She owed an architecture firm about $5,000. And Ben was just starting to learn through emails with her bank.

[Ashley Shaw]

Ben was having to front a lot of bills for Lindley's spa. And this created a really big wedge between the two.

[Investigator]

Investigators question if the couple's money problems could be a. A motive for murder. Then suddenly a call comes in from an insurance agent handling the Renick policy.

[Ben Renick]

The investigative specialist from the life insurance company asked if Lindley was a suspect in the case. And I stated that she was. And because of that, they were holding that million dollar life insurance policy.

[Investigator]

The agent claims Lindley began trying to cash in on the million dollar policy within hours of Ben's death.

[Ben Renick]

That, I think was a red flag for her. That was called in in less than 12 hours. It was very suspicious.

[Investigator]

Even more damning, in the months since Ben's murder, Lindley has been busy trying to cash in on more than just the life insurance.

[Sam Renick]

Quickly after the murder, she decided to sell that farm and Ben's business, his snake business.

[Ashley Shaw]

Sam Renick does try to step in and stop this sale. So they have to go to court to figure out all of these assets.

[Investigator]

On October 5, almost five months after the murder, investigators tell Lyndley they need to talk to her again.

[Ben Renick]

I explained to her a polygraph may be some way for us to exclude her as a suspect.

[Ashley Shaw]

Lynlee agrees this is maybe Lindley's fifth or sixth interview that she's done. At this point, she takes a polygraph test, and Lindley fails this polygraph test.

[Ben Renick]

Following the polygraph, she locked her up.

[Detective]

We believed that Lindley had something to do with it. We just hadn't gotten to the point of having probable cause to arrest anyone in the case.

[Investigator]

Over the next few months, Lyndley continues to fight Sam in court over the sale of the farm. She also goes public with her relationship with Brandon Blackwell.

[Sam Renick]

We started seeing Lynley's social media accounts pop up with another man. And then very quickly after that, we found out that she was. Was pregnant.

[Investigator]

Coming up, a witness comes forward.

[Ashley Shaw]

Police get a call from an inmate. He has got some information to share.

[Investigator]

And a twisted tale unfolds.

[Michael Humphrey]

I turn around. As soon as the first shot rang, I ran out the door.

[Investigator]

Months after, Ben Renick is gunned down inside his snake breeding facility, his murder remains unsolved and the primary suspect, his wife Lynley, remains a free woman.

[Sam Renick]

Lily entered a relationship with Brandon Blackwell almost immediately. At the time of the murder, Brandon was married and had two kids.

[Ben Renick]

He left his wife and him. Lindley had a child together.

[Investigator]

As time passes, investigators keep an eye on Lynley. She eventually prevails in her court battle with Ben's brother Sam.

[Sam Renick]

We had the farm set in Ben's name as a sole owner. But when he passed, it went to Lilly solely. And I lost a farm that my family spent 40 years maintaining. We could have never imagined losing the farm in that way.

[Ashley Shaw]

In 2018, Lindley goes through with the sale of the Montgomery county property for about $740,000.

[Investigator]

But Lindley isn't as lucky when it comes to Ben's life insurance payout.

[Ashley Shaw]

The life insurance payment is never made to Linley.

[Investigator]

That same year, Lynley relocates to Colombia with Brandon and her three kids.

[Ashley Shaw]

Brandon and Lindley's relationship was marked with a lot of fighting. In 2019, Lindley says that she's had enough with this and gets a restraining order taken out against Brandon.

[Investigator]

In a sense, stunning turn of events, authorities catch a break in January 2020 when Brandon is arrested after violating that order.

[Detective]

Brandon Blackwell was in the Boone County Jail. He wanted to talk to one of us.

[Ben Renick]

Brandon explained that it took some time, but eventually she would tell him a.

[Lynley Renick]

Little more and a little more.

[Investigator]

According to Brandon, the week prior to Ben's death, Lindley made the first attempt on his life.

[Ben Renick]

According to Brandon, Ashisha, her co worker, helped her obtain narcotics in this case, Percocet, and come up with a plan to poison Ben.

[Detective]

They crushed up Percocet pills in a protein shake, but that attempt failed.

[Investigator]

Ben's Facebook messages support Brandon's story.

[EMT]

We discovered something on the Facebook messages about Ben getting very ill from this protein shake.

[Investigator]

Brandon tells them that when the Percocet didn't work, Lindley came up with another plan.

[Detective]

She reached out to Michael Humphrey, an old boyfriend, and asked him for help.

[EMT]

Brandon Blackwell should not have known those facts unless he was told by Lindley.

[Investigator]

Two days after the interview with Brandon, authorities arrest Michael Humphrey.

[Michael Humphrey]

Tell us how you got involved in this. Like, they came home to my house one day. She said that she was having some different issues with her significant other. He hit her and, you know, get out of control and Threaten her.

[Ben Renick]

Already Lindley had spun this tale of domestic violence and domestic abuse. Michael believed this. Michael wanted to help. He had brought her the gun to her spa in case she needed it.

[Investigator]

Then two weeks later, she asked Michael to go with her to see Ben.

[Michael Humphrey]

She's young, says, I'm gonna clean him. I just need to go and get my stuff and make sure that he doesn't, you know, flip out on me.

[Investigator]

But when they arrived, Lindley revealed she'd brought the gun with her.

[Michael Humphrey]

I go out there and initially she tries to hand me a gun. I kind of just shoved it back at her like that, like whatever. And we walk up, he, you know, introduces himself, I introduce myself and everything.

[Ben Renick]

They entered the facility. Michael said he was barely in the doorway at the front of the facility when he started. The first year shots.

[Lynley Renick]

Turn around.

[Michael Humphrey]

As soon as the first shot rang, I ran out the door. How many shots did she find? I heard probably another one, maybe two, I don't know. And by the time I'm standing by the car asking her what the just happened, you know what I mean? And she's like, we got to go, we got to go.

[Ben Renick]

He confirmed that Lindley was the one that had shot Ben. He wanted to tell us what happened to the gun after the murder.

[Investigator]

That same day, investigators arrest 29 year old Ashley Shaw.

[Ashley Shaw]

While she's waiting there, her attorney shows up and they both say, we will tell you that story if you give us that immunity. And they get the agreement in place, and Ashley Shaw tells them everything that she knows.

[Investigator]

Ashley says she agreed to help Lyndley because she told her she was in an abusive relationship.

[Detective]

She's telling these people she's having troubles at home, and she's soliciting them to help her get rid of her husband.

[Ashley Shaw]

Ashley Shaw says that she was the one that came got the Percocets. She was the one who also helped find Michael Humphrey for this as well. She was right there with Lindley the entire time to try to set all of this up.

[Investigator]

When Michael and Lindley traveled to the farm, Ashley stayed behind at the spa. To help establish Lindley's alibi, Lindley left.

[EMT]

Her phone and asked Ashley to actually make correspondence or text on the phone to make it appear that she's at the spot.

[Ben Renick]

She starts sending texts to Ben, texting and calling that she was worried. She kept asking him to pick up his phone, but he didn't because Ben was dead.

[Investigator]

On January 16, 2020, over two and a half years after Ben's murder, authorities finally have what they need to arrest Lindley.

[Detective]

Lindley was arrested at her residence in Columbia.

[Sam Renick]

They promised me that someday we would get there. And despite my doubts at times, we did.

[Investigator]

Coming up, will a last minute development seal Lynley's fate?

[Ben Renick]

We rushed it to the lab and realized that we had the murder weapon.

[Investigator]

Or will Lindley continue, continue to evade justice?

[Ashley Shaw]

Lindley takes the stand to tell her side of the story. A side that she has not told anyone yet.

[Investigator]

Over two and a half years after her husband is gunned down inside his exotic snake breeding facility, Ben Renick's widow Lynley is finally arrested for his murder. But she refuses to make a statement.

[Sam Renick]

It took years to make an arrest. It was a long process and that was tough. Murder was not something we thought Lindley would have even been capable of. So we were surprised.

[Investigator]

Ashley Shaw, Linley's co worker, is granted immunity after agreeing to testify against Linlee and her co conspirator Michael Humphrey. As his trial begins in October 2021. Michael claims he didn't pull the trigger.

[Ashley Shaw]

The way the law is is that you don't have to be the one that pulled the trigger. If you took part in it and you knew about it, you are just as guilty as the person that pulled the trigger.

[Ben Renick]

Michael was ultimately convicted first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

[Investigator]

As prosecutors turn their attention to preparing for Lindley's trial, they are contacted by Michael's attorneys.

[Ben Renick]

Michael's team of lawyers said that he was able to give specifics about where the gun was. Following that interview, Trooper Schaefer and I found it was in the attic underneath some insulation. We rushed it to the lab and realized that we had had the murder weapon for the case.

[Ashley Shaw]

Michael agreed to testify at Lindley's trial. In exchange, they would remove his first degree murder conviction and instead give him a second degree murder conviction and sentence him to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

[Investigator]

In December 2021, 33 year old Lindley Renick goes to trial. In a surprising move, Lyndley testifies on her own behalf.

[Ashley Shaw]

Lynlee takes the stand to tell her side of the story. Lindley Renick tells the jury that it was Michael Humphrey that pulled the trigger.

[Ben Renick]

She was there. She didn't know this was going to occur.

[Investigator]

But Michael and Ashley testified to the contrary.

[Sam Renick]

This was wildly premeditated. She tried to poison him first. He didn't die. She covered up her actions all the way until the arrest and lied countlessly. She was the one to pull the trigger.

[Investigator]

Prosecutors argue that Lyndley's claims that Ben abused her are unfounded and her true motive is crystal clear.

[Sam Renick]

I believe that greed is what killed my brother. Lindley's greed. She knew that the farm was in Ben's name and he just took out a $1 million life insurance policy. The truth is that Ben was going to find out that Lindley was having multiple affairs and mismanaging the finances at her spa. When that happened, Ben was going to walk away and she probably wasn't going to get much. She was not willing to walk away from those assets.

[Investigator]

After a four day trial, the jury begins deliberations.

[Ben Renick]

Lindley was ultimately convicted of second degree murder and received 16 years in prison.

[Sam Renick]

We're happy that she was sentenced to the 16 years that she was given. However, my brother's life is worth a lot more than 16 years to those children. All the lives were destroyed by this, by these actions. It was not just done for us.

[Ashley Shaw]

How can we have such disparity in this? I think for one, it breaks down on the argument itself. For Michael Humphrey, the argument was it doesn't matter if he's the trigger person or not. He was there, he knew about it and he didn't say anything. But for Lindley's, it's much more specific. You have to believe that Lindley was the one that shot and killed. And some jurors were maybe thinking that maybe it wasn't Lindley that pulled the trigger was enough for them to pull back on their punishment.

[Investigator]

Following the disappointing sentence, Ben's loved ones attempt to move on while keeping Ben's memory alive.

[Ben Renick]

For me to, to try to imagine that somebody would want to kill Ben was just kind of unbelievable, a little bit surreal. You know, it still is.

[Sam Renick]

That way, he would have had a long, beautiful life to live, and that was stolen from him. Those kids deserved a father and they were denied that. And the ripple effects of his murder will span Generations.

[Narrator]

In February 2022, Lyn Lee sued Brandon Blackwell, claiming that he lied to police about her confession. Lynlee is set to be released from the Women's Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional center in 2038. She will be 49 years old.

[Lindsey Graham]

In the early 20th century, a seemingly ordinary cook in New York City became the center of a medical mystery and a public health crisis. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's podcast, American Historytellers. We take you to the events, times and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our struggles, and our dreams. In our latest series, we follow the trail of Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant and cook to wealthy New York families who was unwittingly spreading typhoid fever throughout the city. Public health officials identify her as a healthy carrier of the disease, meaning that despite showing no symptoms herself, she's been infecting others for years. But when they try to persuade her to submit to testing and isolation, Typhoid Mary will fight back with a vengeance. Follow American historytellers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad free and be the first to binge the newest season only on Wondery. Join Wondery in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today.