Lynlee Renick is convicted of killing her snake-breeder husband Ben Renick to collect his life insurance.
She was convicted Thursday in Boone County, Missouri, of second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the shooting death of her husband in June 2017.
Prosecutors argued that Lynlee Renick, her ex-boyfriend Michael Humphrey and another woman plotted to kill the victim due to Renick's financial issues at her business, which was a spa. Renick was also worried that she would lose custody of her children to her husband if the couple divorced, prosecutors said. Renick was the sole beneficiary of a life-insurance policy for her husband amounting to $1 million, prosecutors said.
Ben Renick had bred rare snakes at his business in New Florence. Lynlee Renick, who was originally charged with first-degree murder, testified that she went to his business the day he was killed and was going to ask for a divorce, the Columbia Missourian reported. She said Humphrey, who had come with her for emotional support, shot her husband while she ran to the car. The victim was shot eight times, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.
"I walked up right behind Michael, and then Michael turned around, and I saw a gun in his hands, and I screamed and ran outside," she testified, the Missourian reported.
However, Humphrey, who already has been convicted of first-degree murder for the crime, previously testified that Renick had been the one to shoot her husband, the Missourian reported.
The Missourian also reported Renick said she had no knowledge that Humphrey was planning to shoot her husband, nor what state he was even in. However, when Humphrey told her to get in the car, she said she knew there was a violent fight between the two.
Closing arguments ended about 5 p.m. Wednesday on the third day of the trial, according to the Missourian. After, the jury deliberated for approximately 11½ hours before arriving at their decision, the Tribune reported.
The jury recommended she serve no more than 13 years for second-degree murder and three years for armed criminal action. A hearing was scheduled for Jan. 24 to finalize the sentences and determine if they will be served concurrently or consecutively.
Renick acknowledged that she later lied about what happened but said she loved her husband and did not want him to die.
Humphrey has been convicted of first-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. The other woman involved was not charged.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
