Recent Crimes: Friends Ask for Update on Triple Shootings

Friends of Charles Renner IV, who died in a triple shooting at his mother’s Sandy Springs home in January, have contacted Patch in disbelief that he could carry out a murder-suicide.

In an email to Patch a friend said he talked to Renner two days before the shootings. He wrote to Patch, "Nothing seemed amiss with his life... he seemed very happy and has always been very even tempered. Anything is possible..."

Police found a pistol near Renner's body on Jan. 16. and believe the shooting deaths of Renner, his mother Edith Renner, age 89, and sister Suzanne Renner, 49 was a murder-suicide. 

All three were shot in the head at 52 Brandon Ridge Drive.

Sandy Springs Police Capt. Steve Rose told Patch there are no other suspects at this time. A medical examiner’s report is expected to confirm police findings.

Recent crime information provided by Steve Rose

Car fire leads to Insurance Fraud

Detectives charged Vanessa Hutton and Marcelino Verde on insurance fraud charges stemming from a Jan. 28 report filed on Harbor Pointe Parkway. Hutton reported her car stolen. She claimed that Verde, her boyfriend, was the only other person who had access and he was with her. The investigation showed that Hutton falsely reported the theft and the pair took the car to Forsyth County and set it on fire in order to collect insurance money.

Taxi Robbery

A cabbie said that about 5:20 am on Feb. 16., he was robbed by a man who pulled a chrome semi-auto gun and robbed him of $80, his keys, and cell phone. The suspect is a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, and 160 lbs.

Divorce Feud

On Feb. 18, cops were called on a dispute stemming from a divorce-court ordered walk-through at a home on West Garmon Road. According to the report, one party, a photographer, and attorney, arrived for a walk through the home. The other party’s attorney stopped them in the foyer and then attempted to stop them from conducting the walk through near the front door. The attorney who attempted to stop them said he was hit by the other party and now everyone was talking about shoving and/or hitting and it just sounded like a lot of good fun for all.

Car break-ins

There were 23 thefts from vehicles from Feb. 16-21. Six occurred along Roswell Road, two at Perimeter Pointe shopping center and the others were are various Sandy Springs locations.