Former Texas sheriff's deputy Renard Spivey, once a familiar face as the courtroom bailiff on "Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez," was acquitted Wednesday of murdering his wife Patricia at their Houston home in July 2019. The Harris County jury deliberated 12 hours over two days before returning the not guilty verdict.
Background
The case began in the early morning hours of July 28, 2019, when authorities responded to a shooting at the Spivey residence. Upon arrival, officers discovered Patricia Spivey, 52, dead inside a closet with multiple gunshot entry and exit wounds. Renard Spivey, then 63, was also wounded—a single bullet had struck his leg.
Spivey initially told first responders that he and his wife had been arguing and were struggling over his weapon when it discharged accidentally. However, investigators grew skeptical of his account. They noted the considerable physical disparity between the couple—Spivey stood 6'3" and weighed approximately 290 pounds, while Patricia was just 5'6". Officers also questioned how a firearm could discharge multiple times during an accidental struggle.
"The multiple shots is definitely what gives everyone a lot of pause as to why it's not an accident," explained Lisa Andrews, a CBS News consultant and former prosecutor.
Spivey remained free on $50,000 bail while awaiting trial—a condition that barred him from attending his wife's funeral. "That's my wife. I was in love with my wife. Why not be there?" Spivey recalled during his first interview since the incident, speaking with "48 Hours" contributor Natalie Morales.
The Trial
The murder trial commenced in November 2023, more than four years after Patricia's death. Spivey was represented by renowned defense attorney Dick DeGuerin and his legal team from the DeGuerin family practice.
During proceedings, DeGuerin presented evidence demonstrating how an accidental discharge could occur with that particular firearm model. "There is no external safety on this gun," DeGuerin explained to Morales. "So, if someone's finger is on that trigger, all it takes is a slight pressure and it goes off."
Spivey took the stand in his own defense, testifying that he had grabbed his wife's phone from her nightstand after becoming suspicious of her behavior. According to Spivey's account, Patricia appeared moments later holding his gun, demanding her phone back.
"When I turned around and saw her finger on the trigger, I was scared for my life," Spivey testified. "Everything happened so fast. When I grabbed the top of the weapon, she pulled back with a finger on the trigger and it went off and shot me in the leg."
Spivey claimed Patricia was struck by two additional rounds during the struggle before he called 911 and attempted chest compressions while the operator guided him.
"It was really emotional because the thing is that it's my wife, you know?" Spivey said. "And you try to save your wife and you've been shot."
Key Takeaways
- Patricia Spivey, 52, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at the couple's Houston residence on July 28, 2019
- Renard Spivey sustained a leg wound and claimed the shooting was accidental during a struggle over his weapon
- The defense highlighted the lack of external safety on Spivey's firearm as evidence supporting an accidental discharge
- Spivey spent four-and-a-half years awaiting trial after being released on $50,000 bail
- Jurors deliberated for 12 hours across two days before reaching their verdict
What's Next
With his acquittal, Spivey now faces the challenge of rebuilding his life after years under suspicion. "I fall to the floor crying. Boohoo crying. My attorneys help pick me up," he recalled of learning the verdict. The former deputy, who maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, expressed that the weight of the accusation has been a constant burden. "I live with it every day," Spivey said in his interview with "48 Hours."
The episode featuring Spivey's account, titled "Deputy Spivey On Trial," will encore Saturday at 10/9c on CBS and Paramount+.