Former Texas sheriff’s deputy Renard Spivey had a long television career as a court bailiff on the show “Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez.” His life changed dramatically in 2019 when he was arrested on charges of murdering his wife.
Shortly after 3 a.m. on July 28, 2019, police were called to the Houston home of Renard and his 52-year-old wife, Patricia. When first responders arrived, they found Patricia dead in the closet with multiple gunshot wounds. Renard, 63, was shot in the leg. He told emergency responders that he and his wife had been arguing and were struggling over the gun when it went off. Officers doubted Renard’s claims.
Dick DeGuerin
They wondered why a man of Renard’s stature (6 feet 3 inches, about 290 pounds) would have to fight over a gun with his wife, who was only 5 feet 6 inches tall. They also questioned how a gun could accidentally fire multiple times. Leonard was accused of murdering his wife. “Multiple shootings is definitely something that gives everyone a lot of pause as to why this was not an accident,” explains Lisa Andrews, a CBS News consultant and former prosecutor.
In his first interview, Renard Spivey sat down with “48 Hours” contributor Natalie Morales to tell his story on “Deputy Spivey On Trial,” airing Saturday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. on CBS and Paramount+.
On the evening of July 27, 2019, Leonard said he and his wife were enjoying a quiet night at their Houston home. But he soon started arguing and Patricia asked him if he was cheating on her.
“I told her no, that’s ridiculous,” Renard said.
Renard said Patricia’s suspicions stemmed from a recent lack of intimacy in their relationship. Despite this, Renard says he tried to kiss Patricia before going to bed, but she was not interested in his affections. He said when he approached her, she turned off her phone so he couldn’t see it.
“And every time I walked up to her, she turned off her phone and I tried to kiss her. She said, ‘I’m not kissing you.’
Renard said this made him uneasy and he wondered what was on Patricia’s phone. He said this when he thought Patricia was sleeping. He grabbed the phone from her nightstand and took it to the closet. He said a short time later, Patricia appeared on his doorstep with a gun and demanded his phone.
“Then when I turned around and saw her finger on the trigger, I almost lost my life,” Renard says.
Renard, who was a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at the time, said he thought the best plan was to try to get the weapon out of his wife’s hands. He said he tried and the gun went off during the struggle.
“It all happened so fast,” Renard said. “As I grabbed the top of the weapon, she put her finger on the trigger and the weapon went off and shot me in the leg.”
The gun fired twice more, striking Patricia in the arm and chest, Renard said. Renard called 911 and told the operator, “Shots were fired.” According to Renard, Patricia was still breathing. He attempted chest compressions under the operator’s guidance. In the 911 call, Renard can be heard struggling.
“It was really touching, because she was my wife, you know?” Leonard says: “And you were shot while trying to save your wife.”
Patricia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Renard was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg. At the hospital, detectives wanted to interview Renard, but he refused. Renard told “48 Hours” that he was advised not to provide a statement by a union representative who was a lawyer at the time.
While he awaits trial, Renard’s attorney requested bail be set at $50,000. Renard posted bail and was released under the judge’s conditions, including banning Renard from attending Patricia’s funeral.
“That’s my wife. I loved her. Why wouldn’t you be there?” Leonard said. “I just wanted to pay tribute. That’s all.”
It took four and a half years after Patricia’s death before Renard was tried for murder. During that time, Lennard said she mainly spent time with her family, working out at the gym and attending church.
Renard’s trial began in November 2023. He was represented by the famous DeGuerin family of lawyers, led by Dick DeGuerin. His attorney filed a lawsuit alleging that Patricia’s death was unintentional. Renard took the stand and testified in his own defense.
“I was told by my lawyer to do that because otherwise it felt like I was feeling guilty or trying to hide something. But I wasn’t,” Renard says.
DeGuerin showed Morales how likely an accidental shooting would be with these types of guns.
“There is no external safety on this gun,” DeGuerin said. “So if someone’s finger is on the trigger, they just have to apply a little bit of pressure and it goes off.”
The case went to the jury. As a former bailiff, seeing a jury walk into a courtroom was nothing new to Renard. But this jury will decide his fate. After deliberation for 12 hours over two days, a verdict of not guilty was reached.
“I fell on the floor crying. Boo hoo crying. My lawyer helped me come get me,” Renard says.
