Renee Pernice Case Update

March 09, 2009

Investigation Discovery recently brought you the story of Renee Pernice, a 35-year-old woman from Kansas City, Missouri, who went missing in January. Since that time, there have been some interesting develops in the case, including the recent arrest of Renee's husband, 37-year-old Shon Pernice, on an unrelated charge.

On Feb. 25, police arrested Pernice on one count of stealing a firearm. According to court records, Pernice was visiting neighbors on Jan. 30, when he entered their basement and stole a .22 caliber handgun. The theft was noticed the following day, at which time the neighbors confronted Pernice.  Two days later, Pernice allegedly returned the gun and apologized for taking it.

Pernice remained in jail overnight, and was released on Feb. 26, after he posted a $25,000 bond. According to the Clay County Prosecutor’s office, Pernice entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment. The charge is listed as a Class C felony. Pernice is expected to appear in court again on March 31.

Read the Probable Cause Affidavit

It remains unclear if Pernice will be able to keep his medic job with the Independence Fire Department. A spokesperson for the department said they are currently reviewing the case.

In related news, Pernice reportedly had a profile on the dating Web site Plentyoffish.com, which was allegedly posted after his wife went missing. According to a Kansas media outlet, Pernice's profile said he was divorced and looking for a life partner.

"I think any concept of Shon being on a single's Web site, and particularly announcing himself as being divorced, is just disgusting and appalling," Renee's father, Rick Pretz, said in an interview with Kmbc.com.

During an interview with the same Web site, Kansas City Police Capt. Rich Lockhart said he was surprised that Pernice was already seeking another woman.

"I would say, given the short time frame that has passed since his wife's disappearance, the fact that her body hasn't been found or anything like that, I think it's somewhat unusual for someone to be out there so soon," Lockhart said.

The dating profile has since been removed from the Internet.

Meanwhile, Renee's family has turned to the Internet, in hopes that a profile they have created on MySpace might bring in some new leads. The page contains a wealth of information about the case and includes links to her missing person flyer and all of the court documents that have been released.

Renee Pernice was reported missing by her father on the morning of Jan. 3. According to Rick, he contacted police after another daughter had a bizarre telephone conversation with Shon Pernice, during which he informed her that his wife had been gone for some time.

Court documents indicate that Shon initially said that he had last seen his wife on Jan. 1, and then later changed the date to Jan. 2. He said he was asleep in the basement when she told him she was leaving. Shon told detectives that he could not remember what Renee was wearing or where she was going.

Following his initial conversation with police, Shon refused to answer any further questions and denied police access to the couple's children – two sons and a daughter Shon has from a previous marriage - ages 11, 8 and 6.

Shon's attorney, Kevin Baldwin, told the Kansas City Star that he had instructed Shon not to speak to police or the media because he believed he was being blamed for Renee's disappearance.

The mystery into Renee's disappearance further deepened the day she was reported missing, when a homeless man reported finding her phone near Sixth Street and Gladstone in Kansas City. The location is roughly 14 miles from her home.

When authorities questioned Renee's family members, they learned that her relationship with her husband was troubled. The couple had been married for about 10 years, but, in 2005, Renee, a nursing instructor, filed for divorce. They eventually reconciled their differences and in Jan. 2007 Renee had the case dismissed. Unfortunately, all was not bliss for long; troubles resurfaced last year, when Shon - a firefighter and National Guardsman – returned from a strenuous tour of duty in Iraq. According to family members, he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

The couple's marital problems continued to boil over and Renee again filed for divorce. According to court documents, Shon was supposed to leave for a two-week military training session on Jan. 2. He had allegedly agreed that, upon his return, he would move out of the house.

During a search of Shon and Renee's house, investigators removed several items, including carpet samples, bed sheets, latex gloves, 23 firearms, ammunition, a hollowed-out grenade, computer equipment, satellite equipment, and a fictitious Navy Seal identification card containing Shon's name and photograph. Investigators also observed a reddish stain in the garage, which they say tested positive for blood.

Read the police documents: warrant 1, warrant 2, warrant 3, evidence report 1, evidence report 2, and evidence report 3.

Shon Pernice has not been named a suspect in the case.

Renee Pernice is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall, and slender, with blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers TIPS hot line at 816-474-TIPS.

Related Link:
Missouri Police Seek Answers in Renee Pernice Case

Photo Credits: Kansas City Police Department

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Comments

[cb]

I think that it would be helpful to post some expert advice for woman in abusive relationships about how to safely get out of the situation. We have all learned that protective orders often mean nothing to their safety. Too many of these acrimonious marital scenarios end up with the wife's murder. Is there anyone at the Discovery site or network that could write a guest piece as a public service announcement or something?

[Miriam]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Miriam

[missypartin]

i all so just came across your blogg will keep checking it out. so sad feel for the familys deeply.