On January 28, 2023, Michael Sherwood, 60, and his wife, Rene, 56, were tragically found shot to death in their home near Leming, Texas. The discovery was made by their youngest son, Logan, who immediately contacted authorities. Both Michael and Rene had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
The couple's other son, Derrick Sean Sherwood, 28, who also resided with them, was notably absent from the scene, along with the family's 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. This prompted the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office to initiate a manhunt. Deputies located the vehicle in southeast Atascosa County, leading to a pursuit that ended in Live Oak County when Derrick crashed into a fence and fled on foot. After a 10-hour search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, he was apprehended near a creek by a Department of Public Safety aircraft and SWAT team. Two pistols were recovered from the vehicle, one believed to be the murder weapon.
Derrick was charged with capital murder and evading arrest. In December 2023, he pleaded guilty in the 81st Judicial District Court and was sentenced to life without parole. During the hearing, Derrick expressed remorse, attributing his actions to a long-standing struggle with methamphetamine addiction, which had led to multiple incarcerations and failed rehabilitation attempts. District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis noted that Michael and Rene had been steadfast in their support, repeatedly trying to help their son overcome his addiction. The plea agreement, reached in consultation with the surviving family members, ensured that Derrick waived his right to appeal, sparing the family from prolonged legal proceedings.
Michael and Rene Sherwood were remembered as devoted parents and active community members. Before relocating to Texas approximately five years prior to their deaths, they had lived in Orcutt, California, where they were involved in youth sports leagues while raising their sons. Michael had worked for Conoco Oil and as a truck driver in Texas, while Rene was employed as a bus driver for local school districts and Silverado Stages. Their tragic deaths and the circumstances surrounding them have left a profound impact on their community and surviving family members.
