DA Allison Palmer Impeaches Testimony of Renfroe's Father

SAN ANGELO, TX — Jack Renfroe, the adoptive father of convicted murderer Ryan Renfroe, took the stand during the punishment phase of his son's trial on Saturday, hoping to save him from a life sentence. Ryan was convicted of murder the previous day, and the same jury will determine his punishment.

Jack Renfroe, a quintessential West Texas father with a burly frame and gray mustache, worked his entire life in ranching and law enforcement. On the stand, he painted a picture of his son as a "kind-hearted" and "gentle person." Despite admitting that Ryan had been "kinda lost" in early adulthood, Jack testified that his son found stability and purpose when he fell in love with his girlfriend, Hanna Causey.

However, 51st District Attorney Allison Palmer dismantled Jack’s portrayal during cross-examination. Known for her methodical approach, Palmer used a subdued tone as she led Jack into discussing his son’s violent past. She highlighted two domestic violence incidents from 2016 and 2017 that required police intervention. In the first, Ryan fled the scene before police arrived. In the second, officers documented injuries sustained by both Jack and his wife, Lana, during an altercation with their son.

Palmer presented graphic evidence, including photographs from one of the incidents, over the objections of the defense. One image showed blood smeared across the white tile floor of the Renfroes' kitchen after Ryan knocked his mother into a cabinet, causing a head wound. During another dispute, Ryan punched a picture frame, leaving his blood in the family’s entryway. Palmer also revealed that Ryan once struck his father so hard he lost consciousness. These incidents occurred while Ryan was on probation, Palmer emphasized.

The jury was visibly impacted by the evidence, especially the photos of the blood-stained kitchen. Palmer’s impeachment of Jack’s testimony undermined the defense’s argument that Ryan was a gentle and reformed individual.

Ryan’s mother and his girlfriend, Hanna, also testified on his behalf, followed by a clinical psychologist, Dr. Leana Talbott, who stated that Ryan was not a psychopath. Palmer chose not to cross-examine these witnesses, as she had already solidified the prosecution’s case through her questioning of Jack.

With both the prosecution and defense resting their cases, retired Senior Judge Barbara Walther worked with attorneys from both sides to finalize the jury instructions. The jury began deliberations on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Renfroe faces a sentence of up to life in prison for the murder of Jakob Jones, whom he shot to death in an alleyway near the Fat Boss Pub in downtown San Angelo during the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2024.