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A former paramedic for the Independence Fire Department pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, who disappeared more than three years ago.
Shon Pernice, 39, of Kansas City, entered the plea Tuesday in Clay County Circuit Court during an emergency hearing. Pernice had been scheduled for trial next week on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Renee Pernice, a 35-year-old nursing instructor and mother of three who disappeared in January 2009.
Pernice told the court Tuesday that he struck his wife during an argument on Jan. 2, 2009, according to Examiner news partner KMBC Channel 9. He said he put her body out to be picked up with the trash, and prosecutors said there was no possibility that her body could be found.
Kansas City police said she had told her family she was considering divorce before her disappearance.
Shon Pernice, who pleaded not guilty in May of 2010, was working for the Independence Fire Department at the time of his arrest and was suspended. He also served in the National Guard and with the Army in Iraq.
The couple had two young sons, both of whom are staying with Renee Pernice’s family members.
Pernice also was accused of stealing a neighbor’s handgun and endangering his two sons in incidents that occurred after Renee Pernice’s disappearance. As part of the plea agreement, he admitted two counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors dropped theft and witness tampering charges.
He faces 15 years in prison. He will be sentenced in May and Renee Pernice and family will have the opportunity to speak.
In advance of the trial, attorneys had been arguing over whether the prosecution could use GPS evidence used to track Shon Pernice. His attorneys asked that the evidence be omitted because investigators failed to obtain a search warrant to place the GPS device on Pernice’s vehicle. A judge was expected to rule on the matter soon.
TIMELINE
Jan. 1, 2009: When authorities say Renee Pernice, 35, was murdered in Clay County.
Jan. 2, 2009: Shon Pernice told detectives he last saw her on this date. He told Renee’s relatives he last saw her on New Year’s Day.
February 2009: Shon Pernice posts a profile on a dating website, saying he’s divorced and looking for companionship.
Feb. 5, 2009: Clay County Prosecutor’s Office announced that the disappearance of Renee Pernice is a murder investigation; Her family announced a $25,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Renee.
Feb. 25, 2009: Kansas City police arrest Shon at an Independence fire station on a felony stealing charge in which he allegedly stole a gun from his neighbor’s house.
July 4, 2009: Pernice again was arrested by Kansas City police on a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge. He allegedly was yelling and screaming outside his North Kansas City home during an altercation with a neighbor.
May 18, 2010: A Clay County grand jury indicts Shon Pernice on first-degree murder.
May 20, 2010: Shon Pernice pleads not guilty to the murder charge.
A former paramedic for the Independence Fire Department pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, who disappeared more than three years ago.
Shon Pernice, 39, of Kansas City, entered the plea Tuesday in Clay County Circuit Court during an emergency hearing. Pernice had been scheduled for trial next week on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Renee Pernice, a 35-year-old nursing instructor and mother of three who disappeared in January 2009.
Pernice told the court Tuesday that he struck his wife during an argument on Jan. 2, 2009, according to Examiner news partner KMBC Channel 9. He said he put her body out to be picked up with the trash, and prosecutors said there was no possibility that her body could be found.
Kansas City police said she had told her family she was considering divorce before her disappearance.
Shon Pernice, who pleaded not guilty in May of 2010, was working for the Independence Fire Department at the time of his arrest and was suspended. He also served in the National Guard and with the Army in Iraq.
The couple had two young sons, both of whom are staying with Renee Pernice’s family members.
Pernice also was accused of stealing a neighbor’s handgun and endangering his two sons in incidents that occurred after Renee Pernice’s disappearance. As part of the plea agreement, he admitted two counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors dropped theft and witness tampering charges.
He faces 15 years in prison. He will be sentenced in May and Renee Pernice and family will have the opportunity to speak.
In advance of the trial, attorneys had been arguing over whether the prosecution could use GPS evidence used to track Shon Pernice. His attorneys asked that the evidence be omitted because investigators failed to obtain a search warrant to place the GPS device on Pernice’s vehicle. A judge was expected to rule on the matter soon.
TIMELINE
Jan. 1, 2009: When authorities say Renee Pernice, 35, was murdered in Clay County.
Jan. 2, 2009: Shon Pernice told detectives he last saw her on this date. He told Renee’s relatives he last saw her on New Year’s Day.
February 2009: Shon Pernice posts a profile on a dating website, saying he’s divorced and looking for companionship.
Feb. 5, 2009: Clay County Prosecutor’s Office announced that the disappearance of Renee Pernice is a murder investigation; Her family announced a $25,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Renee.
Feb. 25, 2009: Kansas City police arrest Shon at an Independence fire station on a felony stealing charge in which he allegedly stole a gun from his neighbor’s house.
July 4, 2009: Pernice again was arrested by Kansas City police on a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge. He allegedly was yelling and screaming outside his North Kansas City home during an altercation with a neighbor.
May 18, 2010: A Clay County grand jury indicts Shon Pernice on first-degree murder.
May 20, 2010: Shon Pernice pleads not guilty to the murder charge.
