In the early hours of a cold January morning in Birmingham, Alabama, the life of Ronnie Render, a 42-year-old male, was violently cut short. On January 29, 2012, he and four other men were discovered dead inside a home in the Ensley neighborhood, the victims of a brutal quintuple homicide. The crime scene that greeted investigators was grim; four of the victims, including Ronnie and his younger brother, Charles 'C.J.'
Render, were found in a back bedroom, having been stripped of their clothing before being shot to death. The fifth victim was found in a separate room.
The investigation into the five slayings led police to three teenage suspects: 16-year-old Artavius Underwood, 17-year-old Rashad Stoves, and 16-year-old Reginald Mims. The ensuing legal process revealed the callous nature of the crime, which authorities stated occurred during a robbery. Details from a preliminary hearing painted a chilling picture of the events, with testimony indicating that multiple firearms were used in the commission of the murders. The evidence suggested a ransacked home and a scene of utter violence, where Ronnie Render and the other victims lost their lives.
Justice for Ronnie Render and the other four men came through the convictions of the three teenagers charged with their murders. Artavius Underwood and Reginald Mims both ultimately pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime. Underwood received a life sentence for his involvement. Mims, who also pleaded guilty to a related robbery charge, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The third suspect, Rashad Stoves, took his case to trial and was convicted by a jury on five counts of felony murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve six concurrent life sentences, with the eventual possibility of parole.
