David Renz

Timeline

• March 14, 2013 — David Renz carjacked Liverpool librarian Lori Ann Bresnahan and her 10-year-old daughter; he stabbed and strangled Bresnahan while attacking and raping her daughter.
• March 19, 2014 — A federal judge sentenced David Renz to 30 years in prison for possessing more than 11,000 images of child pornography and 1,100 child porn videos.
• May 16, 2014 — David Renz was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and predatory sexual assault against a child.
• May 16, 2014 — David Renz learned his fate in Onondaga County Court.

Background

David Renz was described as “congenitally deformed” and was characterised as a paedophile and a child rapist, with a “facial deformity” that required multiple jaw-lengthening surgeries. He was born without the lower half of his left jaw and part of his cheekbone, and a hereditary condition was described as affecting his father, brother, and sister as well. His childhood was described as involving physical pain and deformities, and he had been required to do painful physical therapy exercises for his jaw 2-3 times per week to widen his jaw. The paperwork also described him as below the fifth percentile for height and weight in his first year of life and having serious breathing and feeding problems that necessitated the insertion of tracheotomy and feeding tubes. It was also described that he had significant bilateral hearing loss since the age of two and required hearing aids.

Renz’s school experience was described as including being a loner and often being picked last for athletic activities and group work. It was also stated that he had to cover the hole in his neck from a tracheotomy so he could be heard, drawing bewildered stares. One account described his difficulty chewing food, including “suck it in,” making noises.

Renz’s mother described concerns about bullying and social isolation. Her remarks included an episode at a Wendy’s restaurant when a man and his two children allegedly told her: “don't bring that kid out in public if he can't eat like a human being.” In court filings, she described the home as involving hoarding: “She was a hoarder,” and “The house was cluttered with belongings everywhere. There came a point when no one could eat on the dining room table because of "all the stuff" that was "piled on it."” It was stated that the hoarding got worse after Renz’s father passed away, and that this caused Renz distress because she never allowed him to invite friends over.

It was also stated that Renz and his mother spent years volunteering for Vera House, an agency described as working to stop domestic and sexual violence. Vera House was said to have stated that Renz was never involved in any direct outreach and that he and his mother wrapped gifts for the agency, while Vera House said he never had direct contact with anyone using its services.

The offence

David Renz carjacked Liverpool librarian Lori Ann Bresnahan and her 10-year-old daughter in a Syracuse, New York, parking lot. The attack occurred at Great Northern Mall in Clay, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. Prosecutors stated that Renz removed his required electronic monitoring device and drove to the Great Northern Mall in Clay. Once at the mall, Renz parked his car and walked around the parking lot, where he found Bresnahan and her daughter getting into their vehicle.

Renz forced his way into Bresnahan’s car using an air pistol he claimed was a real gun. He then forced Bresnahan to drive to a remote area of the mall’s parking lot. Prosecutors said he bound both of his victims and used a knife to cut a hole in Bresnahan’s clothes, after which he raped the young girl. Prosecutors said Renz was trying to use cable ties to bind the woman to a headrest in her car when she fought back and shouted for the girl to bolt from the vehicle.

As the girl ran off and was rescued by a passing motorist, Bresnahan was strangled and repeatedly stabbed in the head and chest. Renz was captured by police shortly after. In a federal sentencing hearing for the child pornography case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher characterised the connection between the child pornography and the crimes. Fletcher said:

“Let the defendant's other victims not be forgotten,”
“Each and every child in each and every one of the defendant's 11,000 images and 1,100 videos for which he stands convicted, every single one of those children was used by David Renz to fuel his twisted interest in the explotation of children. Every one of them is also his victim.”

During the county court plea in July 2013, Renz described his attack and stated:

“But even if I did, an explanation is not a justification nor does it lessen my responsibility for what I've done,”
“I'm truly sorry for my actions and I am prepared to accept the consequences for them,”
“I hope that by pleading guilty, I will be able to bring closure for the victim and her family.”

Investigation

It was stated that a federal judge had found that officers failed to do monthly checks on Renz that would have included inspection of the bracelet. It was reported that federal probation officers in Syracuse who were monitoring Renz were fired or demoted. The events were described as involving federal monitoring after child pornography charges and the later removal and reassembly of an electronic monitoring bracelet so monitors did not immediately realize he had taken it off. One account described Renz as removing and quickly reassembling the electronic bracelet hours before the attack so monitors did not immediately realize he had taken it off.

Arrest

Renz was captured by police shortly after the March 14, 2013 attack.

Trial

Renz pleaded guilty to possessing more than 11,000 images of child pornography and 1,100 child porn videos, and he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and sexual assault against a child.

In the sentencing for the child pornography charges, it was described that he declined to say anything when the judge offered him a chance to speak. It was also described that his mother was in the courtroom but declined to talk to reporters. Two former Liverpool school district employees, Kathy Rawlins and Carol Ross, attended the sentencing to be there for Bresnahan.

Sentencing

Child pornography sentencing

On March 19, 2014, U.S. District Judge Norman Mordue sentenced David Renz to 30 years in prison for possessing more than 11,000 images of child pornography and 1,100 child porn videos. It was stated that the sentence went above the 19 to 24 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines. Renz had pleaded guilty in federal court to the child pornography charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher asked the judge to drastically go beyond the recommendation, and she asked for a sentence of 30 to 70 years, stating:

Renz’s attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Randi Bianco, asked for a sentence within the sentencing guidelines of 19 to 24 years, citing the difficult life Renz had suffered as a result of a facial deformity.

Murder and predatory sexual assault against a child sentencing

On May 16, 2014, David Renz received a sentence of life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and predatory sexual assault against a child. It was described as taking place in Onondaga County Court. Judge Thomas Miller was quoted as speaking about future sentencing:

“One day, you will face another judge. One day when you pass from this earth, another judge will impose a harsher sentence for the absolute evil you committed,”

It was stated that the judge said he hoped the penalty would comfort the victims’ family. It was also stated that the victim’s family pleaded with officials not to hold a death penalty trial to spare Bresnahan’s daughter additional trauma, and that federal prosecutors would not seek capital punishment. Renz’s mother, Kathleen Renz, was quoted after sentencing, saying:

“I prays for the victim's family every day”

It was stated that Kathleen Renz said she was relieved that federal prosecutors would not seek capital punishment and that: “It's a great burden lifted.”

Death penalty evaluation and possible withdrawal of guilty plea (discussed)

It was reported that federal prosecutors were evaluating whether to seek the death penalty by indicting Renz on a carjacking charge. If prosecutors decided to pursue the death penalty, it was stated that Renz would be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea in county court to the murder and sexual assault. It was also described that the plea bargain can be withdrawn if the federal government seeks the death penalty.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided in the supplied material.

Outcome

David Renz was sentenced to 30 years in prison for possessing more than 11,000 images of child pornography and 1,100 child porn videos. David Renz was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and predatory sexual assault against a child.

Aftermath

Family members read impact statements from the stand before sentencing. Bresnahan’s cousin Jim O'Hara described finding out that his relative had been brutally murdered and said he felt as cold “as the most brutal of winter days.” It was also stated that Renz’s relatives sat in the audience during sentencing.

Kathy Rawlins said that Renz’s crimes made people more cautious and emboldened people to watch out for others. She said:

“It can only make us stronger, more protective,”
and also: “You never know if someone else will come up with the same idea. Just more keeping your doors locked and watching where you're going and watching getting in and out of your car.”

Carol Ross said the attacks were only about five minutes from her home and added that “Everybody in my neighborhood is being very cautious,” and that “You never know if someone else will come up with the same idea. Just more keeping your doors locked and watching where you're going and watching getting in and out of your car.”

Other details

Renz was described as 30 years old at sentencing for the child pornography charges. In the county court plea account, Renz was described as 29 years old at the time of the guilty plea in July 2013. It was reported that Renz pleaded guilty in Onondaga County Court to murdering Liverpool school district librarian Lori Bresnahan and raping a 10-year-old girl March 14, 2013, six weeks after he was released pending trial on the child porn charges.

The material described that Renz was “under federal monitoring” after the child pornography charge and that he “cut off his ankle monitor” and removed his electronic monitoring device. It was also described that authorities said several of the child pornography videos found in Renz’s possession depicted acts similar to the rape and murder for which Renz pleaded guilty.

Renz’s first name and last name were given as David Renz throughout, and his mother was identified as Kathleen Renz. Two former Liverpool school district employees were identified as Kathy Rawlins and Carol Ross. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher, Assistant Federal Public Defender Randi Bianco, U.S. District Judge Norman Mordue, and Judge Thomas Miller were named in connection with sentencing and court proceedings.