Rena Hodges, a 35-year-old African American woman from Houston, Texas, was tragically found shot to death in her Southwest Houston apartment on February 16, 2017. Hodges, a mother of three daughters aged 14, 10, and 9, had been planning to leave her boyfriend, Jerald Watt, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship. Hodges' family reported that she had been a victim of domestic violence in the past and had expressed concerns about her safety to friends and family.
On the day of her
death, Hodges was on the phone with her friend Lori Warner when she mentioned that Watt had a gun pointed at her head during an argument. Warner heard a scuffle and then the call abruptly ended. Hodges' family grew concerned when she did not pick up her daughters from school and went to check on her. A security guard let them into the apartment, where they discovered Hodges' body in an upstairs bedroom.
Following the discovery, Jerald Watt, Hodges' common-law husband, was arrested and charged with her murder. Police revealed that Hodges had told her family she was planning to leave Watt, who had threatened to kill her if she ever left him. Watt was taken into custody without incident, and bond was set at $50,000. The case highlighted the serious issue of domestic violence and the tragic consequences it can have.
Hodges was remembered by her family as a loving and fun-loving person who had a heart of gold. Her brother, Lee Hodges, took in her daughters and hoped to honor his sister's wishes by becoming their father figure. The case brought attention to the need for better support and resources for victims of domestic violence to prevent such tragedies in the future.
