A SNAKE BREEDER IS FOUND DEAD - AFTER HIS SERPENTS ARE RULED OUT, INVESTIGATORS LOOKED CLOSER TO HOME

"48 Hours" Investigates in "The Poisonous Wife"

In the moments after snake breeder Ben Renick was found dead, investigators thought he might have been the victim of an attack by one of his prized reptiles. But he wasn't. It was worse, much worse. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate Renick's death and the trail that led to a person in his life who was more dangerous and more slippery than any reptile in his care in "The Poisonous Wife" to be broadcast Saturday, March 12 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

On a hot day in June 2017, Lynlee Renick called 911 to say her husband was face down in a pool of blood. She said she found him in his snake facility, which was home to more than 3,000 reptiles, some worth thousands of dollars.

"Someone being killed by a snake is not something that happens every day, especially in Missouri," says coroner Dave Colbert.

It turns out that someone being killed by a snake didn't happen that day, either. That's because Ben Renick was shot multiple times. But by whom?

48 HOURS: "The Poisonous Wife" is produced by Chris O'Connell, Jamie Stolz and Alicia Tejada. Elizabeth Caholo is the development producer. Marlon Disla, George Baluzy, Grayce Arlotta-Berner, Gregory F. McLaughlin and Jud Johnston are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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