5 key details about Patricia Spivey's murder 

The upcoming episode of 48 Hours on CBS will replay the 2019 murder of Patricia Spivey, the wife of a popular courtroom bailiff and Former Texas sheriff's deputy, Renard Spivey.

Because it was difficult to tell whether Patricia Spivey's death was a crime or an accident, the case was contentious for both the jury and the detectives.

Season 38 episode 14 of 48 Hours titled Deputy Spivey on Trial will focus on Patricia Spivey's case. The episode will air on January 11, at 10 pm ET. The logline for the same reads:

"Renard Spivey, the TV bailiff who was accused of murdering his wife, opens up."

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5 key details to learn about Patricia Spivey's murder ahead of 48 Hours on CBS

1) Both husband and wife had gunshot wounds

As per CBS News, after 3 am on July 28, 2019, when the authorities arrived at the Houston house, they found Patricia Spivey dead inside the closet. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim’s husband Renard Spivey on the other hand was shot in his leg and was soon rushed to a hospital, where his wound could be treated.

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2) Renard Spivey was not allowed to attend his wife’s funeral

Shortly after Patrica Spivey’s death, her husband Renard Spivey was arrested as the authorities alleged that he killed his wife and it was an act of domestic violence.

Soon after his detention, his attorney requested bail. Renard got bail at $50,000 however the judge had several conditions about the bail, one of them being he would not be allowed to attend his wife’s funeral.

Regarding that, Renard Spivey told 48 Hours that:

"That's my wife. I was in love with my wife. Why not be there? I just wanted to pay my respects. That's all."

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3) An alleged affair

During interrogations, Renard Spivey revealed that his wife suspected him of having an affair, about which she confronted him on the night of her death. Allegedly, the couple had an unhappy marriage and there was a lack of intimacy, as per CBS News.

Renard claimed that he wanted to give her a good-night kiss that night, but she kept refusing him. He also stated that he felt disturbed as his wife kept hiding her phone from him every time he went near her.

Describing the same, he told 48 Hours that:

"And every time I walk over to her, she turned her phone down and then I was trying to kiss her. She said, 'I'm not kissing you.'"'

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4) Renard Spivey’s description of the accident that led to Patricia’s death

Renard who is 6’3” and 290 pounds as per CBS News, claimed that his wife who was around 5’6”, held him at gunpoint and asked for her phone back, which Renard wanted to check.

During the confrontation, Renard who wanted to take the gun from Patricia Spivey's hand, revealed that shots were accidentally fired and everything happened in a flash which led to Patricia’s death and even him getting shot in the leg.

Describing how the mishap took place, he told 48 Hours:

"And then when I turned around and saw her [Patricia Spivey] finger on the trigger, I was scared for my life...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."

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5) Renard Spivey was declared not guilty

After Renard’s arrest in 2019, he got bail by paying a lump sum. In November 2023, he testified in court in his defense and declared the shooting of his wife as unintentional. His fate was in the hands of a jury, who after 2 days and 12 hours came to the verdict that Renard was not guilty for the 2019 murder of his wife.

Renard’s lawyer DeGuerin, who also believes that the murder could have taken place accidentally, blamed the gun and told 48 Hours that:

"There is no external safety on this gun. So, if someone's finger is on that trigger, all it takes is a slight pressure and it goes off."

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To learn more about this case, watch season 38 episode 14 of 48 Hours, Deputy Spivey, airing on CBS on January 11 at 10 pm ET.