Daniel Reneau

Case record: Daniel Reneau

Background

Daniel Earl Reneau was convicted of capital murder in connection with a robbery.

Nadia Mireless testified during the punishment phase that she shared a home with Reneau, Jeffrey Wood, and her sister. During that time, approximately 10 or 11 firearms were stored at her house. Mireless testified that Reneau indicated to her that he and Jeffrey Wood obtained the firearms in burglaries they had committed. Mireless identified two firearms, previously reported missing in burglaries, as firearms stored at her home.

During the punishment phase, 17-year-old Benny Skinner testified that he took part in the burglary of Medina Children’s Home with Reneau, Jeffrey Wood, and Aaron Toledo. Skinner testified that they stole rifles from the children’s home and that while committing the burglary, Reneau carried an SKS assault rifle.

Eighteen-year-old Aaron Toledo testified that he participated in two burglaries with Reneau and had been convicted for both. He testified that Reneau was armed during the commission of the burglaries and stated that he would shoot anyone who discovered them. Toledo identified State’s Exhibit No. 35 as one of the weapons stolen in the burglary of Medina Children’s Home.

Toledo testified that he also participated in the burglary of a gun store in Harper, Texas, in December 1995 with Reneau. He testified that a number of guns were stolen and that Reneau was armed during the commission of that burglary with a .22 and an SKS assault rifle. Toledo identified State’s Exhibits 33 and 36 as weapons taken in the Harper gun store burglary.

Toledo also testified that Reneau pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot him if he told anyone about the burglaries.

Toledo testified that on the night before the robbery and murder in the instant case, Reneau and Wood came to his home, stated they were going to get a lot of money, and asked him to participate. He did not participate. Toledo testified that on that evening he saw an AR-15 assault rifle and the .38 from the Harper burglary in the back of the truck Reneau and Wood were driving.

Justin Lemond testified that he was in a jail cell with Reneau after Reneau was arrested for the instant offense. Lemond testified that Reneau told him that he was afraid he might get caught because he lost some scissors from a previous robbery that would connect him to the instant offense and that he might be on videotape. Lemond testified that Reneau also bragged to him that he was responsible for the majority of the crimes in the Kerrville area. Lemond testified that he wanted out of the cell block because he was afraid of Reneau and because Reneau was talking about trying to escape, saying that he wasn’t afraid to take out a jailer to do it.

Eugene Libscomb, a Kerr County jailer, testified that he overheard Reneau and Wood planning an escape attempt and speculating that in their attempt to escape they would need a car and would have to shoot the driver and the passenger.

John Edwin Price, Jr., a shift supervisor at the Kerr County Sheriff’s Department, testified that he also overheard Reneau and Wood planning an escape in which they discussed killing a police officer during transport and taking his car.

Erin Bailey, a clerk at the Kerr County Mini Mart, testified that on the night of November 30, 1995 she was robbed at gunpoint. Although Bailey could not identify the person who robbed her because he wore a bandana covering his face, she could identify State’s Exhibit 37 as the scissors that the person used to cut the phone cord.

William Hierholzer, chief investigator for the Kerr County Sheriff’s Department, testified that Reneau gave a statement in which he confessed to the Mini Mart robbery. Reneau’s statement was admitted into evidence. The gun Reneau used in the robbery, recovered near the scene and referred to in Reneau’s statement, was also admitted into evidence.

The offence

In December 1995, Reneau and Jeffrey Wood formulated plans to rob a Kerrville gas station.

Over a two to three-week period in December 1995, Reneau and Wood formulated plans to rob a Kerrville gas station. Both men attempted to recruit two employees of the business to participate in the crime. After the employees refused to help, Reneau and Wood proceeded with the robbery themselves.

At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Jan. 2, 1996, while Wood waited outside, Reneau entered the gas station with a gun and pointed it at Kris Keeran, the clerk standing behind the counter. Reneau ordered him to a back room. When Keeran did not move quickly enough, Reneau fired one shot with a .22 caliber handgun that struck Keeran between the eyes. Death was almost instantaneous.

Without checking on the condition of the victim, Reneau proceeded with the robbery and Wood joined him. Both men removed a safe, a cash box, and a videocassette recorder containing the store’s surveillance tape.

Prosecutors said Reneau hatched the plan that involved his roommate and culminated with the death of Kriss Keeran, 31, who knew both men.

Evidence showed Reneau entered the store before dawn on Jan. 2, 1996 and shot Keeran once in the face with a .22-caliber pistol. Then, joined by roommate Jeffrey Wood, they robbed the store of more than $11,000 in cash and checks. Witnesses described the pair of men seen at the store during the 6 a.m. robbery, including a delivery driver.

Reneau and Wood drove to Wood’s parents home in Devine, about 65 miles away, where they tried to open the safe with a sledge hammer and a blow torch. When Wood’s 16-year-old brother, Jonathan, asked them how they got the safe, Wood told him about the holdup and shooting. When Jonathan expressed skepticism, Wood showed him the tape. Jonathan was then ordered to destroy the tape with the blow torch.

Reneau admitted killing Keeran but denied other accusations.

While Reneau was in jail, authorities learned Reneau and Wood were working on a plan to break out by killing a jailer.

Investigation

Based on descriptions of the robbers and their car from witnesses, police tracked down Wood and Reneau and arrested them the next day. Both were arrested within 24 hours and gave complete confessions.

Wood led police to the murder weapon, which Reneau said had been taken by Wood in an earlier burglary.

Police recovered the safe and the charred remains of the security tape.

Reneau’s statement admitted into evidence at trial included a confession to the Mini Mart robbery. The gun used in the Mini Mart robbery, recovered near the scene and referred to in Reneau’s statement, was also admitted into evidence.

William Hierholzer testified Reneau confessed to the Mini Mart robbery.

Erin Bailey testified she identified State’s Exhibit 37 as scissors used to cut the phone cord during the November 30, 1995 robbery at the Kerr County Mini Mart.

Arrest

Reneau and Jeffrey Wood were arrested within 24 hours after the Jan. 2, 1996 robbery and murder.

Justin Lemond testified he was in a jail cell with Reneau after Reneau was arrested for the instant offense.

Trial

Reneau was indicted on Jan. 22, 1996 in the 216th Judicial District Court of Kerr County, Texas, for the capital offense of murdering Kris Keeran during the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery, occurring on or about Jan. 2, 1996.

After a change of venue, Reneau was tried before a jury in the 216th Judicial District Court of Gillespie County, following his plea of not guilty.

The jury found him guilty of the capital offense on March 18, 1997.

Following a separate punishment hearing, the jury answered the two statutory special issues "yes" and "no" respectively on March 20, 1997. In accordance with state law, the trial court assessed Reneau’s punishment at death.

During the punishment phase, witnesses described prior burglaries and other conduct attributed to Reneau and Wood.

Reneau did not testify at his trial.

Evidence presented at trial included Reneau’s statement admitting the Mini Mart robbery and the firearms and other weapons identified by witnesses as being stored or stolen during burglaries.

Bruce Curry, the Kerr County district attorney who prosecuted Reneau, said:

"As I recall, he was pretty cold, very little emotion shown at any time,"
"And the method of this particular murder was cold -- just kind of walk up, shoot some guy in the head, walk on by, commit the robbery and leave."

A jury took 15 minutes before returning with its guilty verdict.

Sentencing

On March 20, 1997, the trial court sentenced Reneau to death after the jury answered "yes" and "no" to the two statutory special issues.

During the punishment phase, Nadia Mireless testified about the number of firearms stored in her home and that Reneau indicated he and Wood obtained firearms in burglaries.

Appeals

Reneau’s conviction and sentence were automatically appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which affirmed in an unpublished opinion on Jan. 27, 1999.

Reneau filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on Nov. 8, 1999.

Reneau filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus in the state trial court on Nov. 2, 1998. The state court denied the relief by written order on Sept. 15, 1999.

Reneau filed his federal petition for writ of habeas corpus on March 8, 2000. The federal district court denied habeas relief on April 2, 2002.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of relief on Dec. 5, 2001.

Reneau filed a petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on April 8, 2002. The Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari on June 10, 2002.

Outcome

Reneau was executed by lethal injection in Texas on June 13, 2002.

Reneau was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

At his execution, Reneau made no final statement.

As the lethal injection began flowing, he looked at Chaplain Richard Lopez and said:

"I thought you were going to speak to me."

The chaplain said he would.

Reneau’s eyes then partially closed, his cheeks filled with air, and he exhaled one last time, and he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m., after the lethal drugs began to flow.

Texas Rangers Sgt. Henry Fleming and Capt. Clete Buckeleu witnessed Reneau’s execution on behalf of his victim’s family.

Aftermath

In a letter written to Brian Crowther, USA Death Penalty Coordinator for Amnesty International, U.K., Reneau wrote that he received a message through K. Bandall and thanked him. The letter was dated 04.04.02 and addressed the impending execution date for June 13, 2002.

Reneau wrote:

"I can feel the trend towards abolition growing stronger. I think I heard that the overall support for the death penalty in this country is down to 57%. I’ve always kind of figured though that when something positive does finally happen about it, that it would be just after they killed me. And now I have a date for June 13th, as I’m sure you’re aware of. And unless something positive happens on my behalf then I will probably die on that date or shortly thereafter."

He wrote:

"My appeal to the Supreme Court will be filed by April 9th and if they were to rule in my favor on the main issue, it would affect many other cases and even though it would be the right thing to do, I would be surprised if they did."

Reneau wrote:

"I thought a capital crime was just treason or trying to kill the President or something of that nature. Didn’t know there was an appeal process."

He wrote:

"When I was 18, I was in a County Jail in Fredericksburg, Texas, for 21 days on a misdemeanor probation revocation. It was a nonviolent misdemeanor and I left the jail everyday on work release."

He wrote:

"I in no way attempt to make light of what I’ve done or get out from under any responsibility of it. I’m here for robbing a gas station and shooting once, the clerk that was working there."

He wrote:

"I’m not close to being perfect but when you compare my case and background to the other people who are inmates in general population, it doesn’t make a lot of sense."

He concluded:

"Anyways, I appreciate the efforts of people like yourself and thank you again.
Sincerely, Danny Reneau"

A newspaper report described Reneau as a 27-year-old construction worker executed for killing a Kerrville convenience store clerk during a robbery more than six years ago. The report said Reneau had no final statement and described the remark to Chaplain Richard Lopez, and that he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

The newspaper report also described that Texas Rangers Sgt. Henry Fleming and Capt. Clete Buckeleu witnessed the execution.

Timeline

• Dec 1995 — Reneau and Jeffrey Wood formulated plans to rob a Kerrville gas station.
• Jan 2, 1996 (approx. 6:00 a.m.) — Reneau shot and killed Kris Keeran during the robbery; Reneau and Wood removed a safe, a cash box, and a videocassette recorder containing surveillance tape.
• Jan 22, 1996 — Reneau was indicted in the 216th Judicial District Court of Kerr County, Texas, for capital murder during the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery.
• Mar 18, 1997 — The jury found Reneau guilty of the capital offense.
• Mar 20, 1997 — The jury answered the statutory special issues "yes" and "no"; Reneau was sentenced to death.
• Jan 27, 1999 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed in an unpublished opinion.
• Nov 8, 1999 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari.
• Nov 2, 1998 — Reneau filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus (state trial court).
• Sep 15, 1999 — The state court denied habeas relief by written order.
• Mar 8, 2000 — Reneau filed his federal petition for writ of habeas corpus.
• Dec 5, 2001 — The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of habeas relief.
• Apr 2, 2002 — The federal district court denied habeas relief.
• Apr 8, 2002 — Reneau filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Jun 10, 2002 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari.
• Jun 13, 2002 — Reneau was executed by lethal injection in Texas; he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

Other details

Reneau shot Kris Keeran during the robbery; death was almost instantaneous.

The safe and cash box contained approximately $11,350 in cash and checks.

Reneau and Wood attempted to open the safe with a sledge hammer and a blow torch at Wood’s parents’ home in Devine.

Wood showed Jonathan the surveillance tape, and Jonathan was ordered to destroy the tape with the blow torch.

A convenience store employee testified she believed Reneau was the person who robbed her at gunpoint about five weeks before Keeran’s murder, and Reneau confessed to that robbery.

Prosecutors said Reneau had participated in several burglaries in the weeks prior to the incident, including one where he said he "would kill anyone that comes up."

Reneau told Lemond he might be caught because he lost scissors from a previous robbery that would connect him to the instant offense and that he might be on videotape.

Reneau told Lemond he was talking about trying to escape and that he wasn’t afraid to take out a jailer to do it.

Eugene Libscomb testified Reneau and Wood planned an escape attempt involving shooting the driver and the passenger to obtain a car.

John Edwin Price, Jr., testified Reneau and Wood discussed killing a police officer during transport and taking his car.

In a death-row interview and other reported statements, Reneau made these remarks:

"Me."

"I ended up giving a confession,"

"I don't think it would have made any difference,"

"I thought at the time of the crime only treason or trying to kill the president or something similar would make one eligible for the death penalty."

"I don't feel like dying,"

"I don't want to die. But if it does happen, I accept it. I believe in a Christian God, but I won't really know until I die to find out."

He said Wood recently wrote him asking that he write a letter exonerating him of the crime, and he said he did not respond.

A report stated Reneau said during the execution that he thought Chaplain Richard Lopez was going to speak to him.

Another report described that the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review Reneau’s case.

A report stated Reneau wrote: "Thou shall not kill" while discussing his view of death penalty and Christian scripture.