Rhonda ReynoldsCase Agent: John Guthrie

Crime Scene Investigator: Kathy ThompsonWitness Investigator: Tonya Blevins

Computer Analyst: Jannise McCall

ON December 16, 1998 33 year old Rhonda Reynolds was found dead of a single gunshot wound to her head.

Her body was located in her master bedrooms walk-in closet.

Rhonda was a former State Trooper and was married to a Toledo Elementary School Principle, Ron Reynolds.

It is noted that their marriage of eleven months was rocky from the start.

Their marriage reached a point of crisis in October of 1998.

Rhonda Reynolds

The point of crisis in October of 1998 is when Rhonda found out about Ron’s infidelities with his former wife.

This promted both Rhonda and Ron to get a divorce. Ron demanded that Rhonda renounce her personal

savings of $15,000. that she invested into their new home.

Rhonda refused his demands. This case was dubbed a suicide. The investigation team and I will show that Rhonda

Reynolds case was not suicide but murder.

Rhonda Reynolds

Ron Reynolds (Former Husband) David Bell (Close friend and confidante) Barbara Thompson (Rhonda’s Mother)

Sheriff John McCroskey Sgt. Glade Austin Detective Jerry Berry

Key personal and witnesses:

David Bell was a former sweetheart and remained a close friend and confidante to Rhonda.

On December 15, 1998, Ron Reynolds stated to police that Rhonda called him at work and claimed she was going to commit suicide. Also stating that he (Ron) raced home to prevent her from doing so.

However, David Bell spent part of the evening helping Rhonda pack and move her things out.

Witnesses Accounts:

David Bell being a 20 year police sergeant veteran stated that the conversation was unemotional and business-like, centering upon details of the separation and courses of actions to be taken place.

Contraire to what Ron said “that he raced home to prevent her from doing so”, he instead attended a play at his school and stayed to clean up afterwards.

When questioned by David, Ron stated that “if she was going to commit suicide; there was nothing he could do to stop her”.

Witnesses Accounts:

Supplemental Report: Detective Jerry Berry

Tapped Statement with David Bell: Detective David Neiser

The evening of December 16, 1998 Rhonda phoned her mother to tell her that the marriage was over and that she would be flying out to see her; Rhonda’s plane reservations was for the next day.

During the phone conversation, according to Barbara Thompson, Rhonda showed no signs of depression. Instead she seemed eager to get on with her life. She told her mother that she planned to demand her money out of the house, and if Ron didn’t agree, she would fight the divorce and demand half of his retirement.

Witnesses Accounts:

David Bell was with Rhonda until 8:30 that evening, and he talked with her again around 12:40 a.m. to confirm the time of her flight.

David Bell says that Rhonda was in good spirits and seemed excited about going out to see her immediate family.

Witnesses Accounts:

Tapped Statement with David BellDetective David Neiser:

Rhonda’s Bags

Ron claims that he stayed up with Rhonda until 5 a.m. trying to talk to her out of suicide.

Ron also claims that shortly after their intense conversation she fell asleep beside him.

Investigators noted that only Ron’s side looked to have been slept in.

Ron Reynolds statements and inconsistencies:

Supplemental Report: Detective Jerry Berry

Ron asserts that he was awakened by his alarm clock at 6 a.m. to find Rhonda was not next to him.

Ron claims he searched the house before finding her in their master bedrooms closet with the door “closed” on an electrical cord going to the bathroom.

According to investigators Rhonda’s body was sticking out of the closet therefore it being impossible for the door to be “closed”.

Ron Reynolds’ statements and inconsistencies:

Supplemental Report: Officer R.S. Bishop #275

Ron Reynolds is known by friends and family that he talks of being a light sleeper.

Ron claims he was awakened by his alarm clock and allegedly did not here a gunshot less that 15 feet away.

Ron Reynolds is also left handed and Rhonda died of a single shot under her right ear.

Ron Reynolds’ statements and inconsistencies:

Sound Test by Firearms expert Marty Hayes:

Lewis County Autopsy Report:

Taped Statement with Ronald Reynolds: Deputy Gary Holt

Supplemental Report: Detective Jerry Berry

At 6:20 a.m., Ron called 9-1-1 and in a recorded conversation told the operator, “My wife committed suicide.”

The operator then asked if he had tried to find a pulse, and Ron’s reply was no.

Yet when questioned by the first deputy to arrive at the scene, Ron stated that he took Rhonda’s pulse before phoning 9-1-1.

Ron Reynolds’ statements and inconsistencies:

Ron Reynolds’ Tapped 9-1-1 call:

Taped Statement with Ronald Reynolds by: Deputy Gary Holt