Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Death by Fame‘s latest episode, titled “Day in Court,” aired on ID on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET. The episode revolved around the former sheriff’s deputy Renard Spivey, who became famous as a bailiff on the Emmy-winning 2006 court TV show Justice for All With Judge Cristina Perez. He was briefly charged with the murder of his wife, Patricia Spivey, before he was found not guilty in December 2023.
Renard Spivey called 911 early on the morning of July 28, 2019, to report that shots had been accidentally fired at his residence after an argument with his wife, Patricia Spivey. According to his statement, Renard and his wife had been “tussling” with a gun before he accidentally shot her. During the ensuing struggle, three shots were fired. CNN reported that his wife shot him in the leg while he mistakenly shot her twice, leading to her subsequent death. The day after the murder, authorities claimed that Spivey intentionally shot his wife and charged him with the murder of Patricia Spivey.
After he was arrested, authorities alleged that both the gunshots aimed at Patricia Spivey were suggestive of the shooting being intentional. They also claimed that Renard Spivey was right-hand dominant and was shot in the left thigh. According to Patricia’s brother, Ezra Washington, Renard and his sister had been having a rough marriage. Patricia began accusing Renard of having an affair or of getting back on steroids.
Fox 26 reported that the court found Renard Spivey not guilty of shooting Patricia Spivey in December 2023. The verdict was that Renard had indeed shot his wife accidentally after the couple had been arguing all day.
What did Patricia Spivey’s autopsy reveal?
KPRC reported that Patricia Spivey was found dead in the couple’s home in Houston. Authorities found her in the far corner of the master bedroom closet. They found a lot of blood along with three bullet casings. Investigators also found a semi-automatic gun on top of a hamper near the closet door. Her autopsy revealed that she was shot once in the arm and once in the chest. Her wrists also had minor bruises. She was 52 at the time of death.
According to the autopsy, the bullet went through her arm and into her chest below the right breast. It broke her bone and made her arm completely unusable. The other bullet then went through Patricia Spivey’s heart and into her lungs, which led to her death. The gun was a 9mm shotgun. Following this, she was rushed to the Ben Taub Hospital, where she was then pronounced dead. As per the Houston Chronicle, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office reportedly said that the court could convict Spivey of a lesser charge of manslaughter but chose not to pronounce him guilty.
The shooting likely took place at around 3 a.m. in the night when a neighbor claimed to have woken up to the loud noises, according to ABC 13. Renard allegedly called Ezra Washington thrice on the night before the shooting. He told him that Patricia had been counting his low testosterone medication and had become suspicious of him. A lack of intimacy in the relationship was also reported.
The Death by Fame episode “Day in Court” aired on ID on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
