Sister Murder: Community Paints A Picture Of A Troubled Shooter, Sweet And Shy Victim
August 5, 2011
Friends and those that knew sisters Elena Rendell and Christina Sneary were in shock Thursday to learn that Elena had been charged as an adult with manslaughter after shooting Christina in neck following an argument over a cell phone.
Most described the victim, 14-year old Christina as a shy, quiet girl. And they describe the shooter, 17-year old Elena, as a troubled young lady that battled her share of problems in life. Meanwhile, their mother, Troyce Sneary, spoke out angrily, saying she could not get the help her special needs daughters required.
Christina Marie Sneary, 14 — Shot and killed
Quiet. Shy. Sweet. Those were the words that were repeated over and over Thursday about Christina Sneary. She had just completed the eighth grade at Ernest Ward Middle School, where she made an impression on those that knew her, where she had received a “Most Improved” award, and where her friends at the lunch table called her “Cherry”.
Christina was, by all accounts, excited about the idea of moving on to become a Northview High School Chief next year.
“She was a nice girl, she seemed to be very quiet. She didn’t talk much unless you talked to her. She was looking forward to going to high school,” one of her middle school friends told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon. They had first met in sixth grade at Ernest Ward. “I will miss her, she was a cool girl.”
Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Perry agreed as she remembered Christina.
“She was one sweet child. So sweet. So quiet. She was an excellent young lady that truly is going to be missed. She did not cause any trouble, no problems at all. She was a super young lady” Perry said.
“I’m going to miss Christina very much; I hope God watches over her and her family,” another classmate wrote. “She was a very nice and quiet girl. She’s gonna be very missed.”
Elena Rendell, 17 — Charged as an adult with manslaughter
Elena Janelle Rendell is facing 25 years to life in prison for the shooting death of her sister Christina Sneary. But according her high school friends and those that knew her, she was already a prisoner in her own different world.
Elena was also described as a quiet girl, but many described the anger they could see in her. And they saw a special needs girl that was bullied and mercilessly taunted by those around her at Northview High School and elsewhere in her young life.
“I knew Elena from our ROTC group at Northview, and she was a very sweet girl despite her disabilities and the ridicule she went through on nearly a daily basis. This really shows that verbal abuse can really change people and affect their behavior — not saying she shouldn’t be held responsible for what she did but it does play a role in the whole thing ultimately,” a fellow Northview student said.
“I used to live by them, and I know both of the girls. Elena was made fun of quite often, and I agree a person can only take so much. It’s nowhere near right what she did, but I feel bad for her and prayers go out to the whole family because this is a horrible thing for anybody to go through,” a former neighbor wrote on NorthEscambia.com.
“I remember seeing Elena walking down the hallway in school before I graduated. She was steaming and red in the face. I was unaware of what was going on until I saw a group of females chasing her while verbally abusing her. She tried to be the bigger person and walk away…the other females wouldn’t allow it. I could see her being taunted and picked on day by day because of her physical appearance,” a Northview graduate said. “Its too much emotional distress for one person especially if she is already suffering from a disorder.”
A young lady that once visited friends near Elena’s Molino home said “she was constantly made fun of and treated VERY badly. It’s no excuse, but some people can only take so much. Hopefully somebody can learn something from this. Don’t make fun of people because they are different.”
“Elana was a sweet child and very shy. I cannot help but believe she was bullied and ‘pushed over the edge’. It was a long time in coming. I have seen her taunted and picked on and watched her reactions. All I ever saw was sadness.,” a commenter wrote on NorthEscambia.com. “She was one of the saddest children I have ever known. Not one to ‘open up’ to allow anyone to see inside. She looked liked she needed emotional support, especially with all the taunting she got. Looking back, there were ‘cries for help’ that went unheeded possibly, because she could not voice them.”
Troyce Sneary — Mother
Troyce Sneary was raising Christina Sneary and Elena Rendell in a quiet Molino neighborhood until just recently. They lived in brick home that sits on just under three acres on Sunset View Lane, a quiet dirt road off Cedar Springs Road and Sunshine Hill Road. It’s not far from the The Leaning Post Ranch, a non-profit facility that, somewhat ironically, provides equine assisted activities to disabled individuals and at-risk youth.
Trocye Sneary made no secret of the fact she believed Elena Rendell had issues in life and needed help. Trocye was confused and angry Thursday as she spoke to a reporter from WEAR TV, saying that she had tried to get her daughter help.
“Her counselors knew about this, the anger problem,” she told the TV news crew from her new home on Kipling Street in Ferry Pass. “For years I’ve been trying to get help. Nobody would help me. So I moved here out of Molino so I could get help.”
“You think you can leave a 14-year old and a 17-year old home alone,” Troyce said. “The guns were put away. Don’t know how they got them.”
Trocye Sneary lost both of her daughters in a single gunshot on a hot summer afternoon — one to the grave and one to jail, perhaps for a very long time. Despite the murder, she’s supporting Elena.
“I love her; I’m standing behind her,” Troyce said.
…..
For an earlier story with more details about the murder, click here.
Northview, Ernest Ward Offer Grief Counseling Following Student Murder
August 5, 2011
Both Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools are offering grief counseling following the murder of a student by her sister.
Elena Rendell, who attended Northview last year, is accused in the shooting death of Christina Sneary, who completed eighth grade at Ernest Ward Middle last year. Free grief counseling is available to students who may be distraught over the incident.
Parents may contact Northview at (850) 327-6681 or Ernest Ward at (850) 327-4283 to receive further information and make arrangements for the free counseling.
Cash Savings Beginning Today With Back To School Sales Tax Holidays
August 5, 2011
There’s a chance to save some cash on back to school shopping this weekend in Alabama and next weekend in Florida.
Alabama
Alabama’s back to school sales tax holiday is underway through midnight Sunday. However, in Escambia County, AL, Atmore and Brewton will not be participating. In Atmore and Brewton, shoppers will save the state’s four percent tax, but still pay the county and city tax rate. Flomaton will participate, with back to school purchases in Flomaton exempt from the state and city tax, but not the one percent county tax. Click here for a list of exempt items in Alabama.
Florida
In Florida, the sales tax holiday will be August 12-14 with no state or local sales tax on clothing, footwear and some accessories selling for $75 or less or certain school supplies for $15 or less. Click here for a list of exempt items in Florida. (To download and print a school supply list for an Escambia County school, click here.)
Man Dies In Nine Mile Road Crash
August 5, 2011
A 59-year old Escambia County man died in a single vehicle accident early Thursday afternoon on Nine Mile Road.
Johnnie C. Ruston of Pensacola was traveling west on Nine Mile Road in his 2002 Dodge Ram when, for an unknown reason, he veered off the roadway and made contact with several rocks. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Rushton was not wearing a seat belt in the 12:30 p.m. accident.
Boil Water Notice Continues In Nine Mile Road Area
August 5, 2011
Effective immediately, a precautionary boil water notice has been issued for the area of Nine Mile Road (both sides of the road) from Chemstrand Road to Highway 29 North, (Pensacola Blvd.) including the following streets:
- All of Holsberry Road north and south of Nine Mile
- Nims Lane
- Allison Lane
- Holsberry Lane
- Tulsa Drive
- Holsberry Place
- Edith Lane
- Strandview Drive
- Salets Street
- Craft Street
- Sprague Drive
- Chandler Street
- Chauncey Street
- North Palafox from Nine Mile to 9 ½ Mile
- Highway 29 North (Pensacola Blvd.) from 9 Mile Road to 10 Mile Road, east side of the street only
This notice is being issued following a water main break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use six drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
ECUA crews have repaired the main, and are flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance, or see precautionary boil water notice guidelines on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov.
NOAA Predicts More Storms This Hurricane Season
August 5, 2011
NOAA has issued its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, raising the number of expected named storms from its preseason outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season.
“The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”
Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active season. These include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña. Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season.
Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects, with a 70 percent probability, a total of:
- 14 to 19 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
- 7 to 10 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
- 3 to 5 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)
NOAA says these ranges indicate an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
These ranges are indicative of an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States.
The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year.
Pictured above: The Alantic Basin early Friday morning. Courtesy NOAA.
Escambia County Launches New Easy Access Website
August 5, 2011
Escambia County launched a new website Thursday that is designed to offer easy access to the county’s online resources.
The new www.myescambiacares.com can also be accessed from the county website, www.myescambia.com.
The website is divided into two main sections:
- The Citizen Support Center, in which citizens can ask a question and make a request, find information about meetings, public records, calendar, and other information.
- Frequently Asked Questions, where citizens find frequently called numbers, a quick reference guide to county services, building inspections information, Social Security Administration and other resources.
Additional features will be added in the near future.
Northview Student Charged As Adult In Murder Of Sister Christina Sneary
August 4, 2011
A former Northview High student, 17-year old Elena Janelle Rendell has now been charged as an adult with the murder of her 14-year old sister Christina Sneary, an eighth grader at Ernest Ward Middle School last year.
Rendell (pictured left)) appeared in court Thursday afternoon and was charged as an adult with one count of manslaughter with a firearm. Her bond was set at $300,000. She is set to appear again in adult court on August 18. If convicted, she faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The two girls had recently moved with their mother from Sunset View Lane in Molino to the 7600 block of Kipling Street in the Ferry Pass community. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to that home about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, where they found the 14-year old girl had been shot in the neck. She was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition where she died just before midnight.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from an argument over a cell phone. Both girls were described by a relative as being special needs children.
Rendell was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
“It appears that the two juveniles were at home and involved in some sort of argument,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “At some point, Rendell retrieved a firearm and shot the victim.”
Sneary (pictured left) would have been a freshman this fall at Northview High School.
Pictured top: Elena Janelle Rendell, 17, is charged with the shooting death of her half-sister, 14-year old Christina Sneary. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Sentenced For Billings Murders
August 4, 2011
Four men convicted in the death of Byrd and Melanie Billings were sentenced Thursday morning.
- Gary Lamont Sumner Jr., who pleaded no contest to two counts of second degree murder, received 20 years with no probation.
- Leonard Gonzalez, Sr., who pleaded no contest to two charges of second degree murder and home invasion, received 17.5 years in prison without probation when released.
- Rakeem Chavez Florence, who entered a plea deal for his testimony to second degree murder and home invasion robbery, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and 21 years of probation.
- Fredrick Thornton, Jr, who pleaded to two counts second degree murder and one count of home invasion, was sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by 18 years of probation under a plea deal with prosecutors.
The sentences were handed down by Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Geeker.
Three other defendants were previous sentenced in the case:
- Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. — sentenced to death for shooting and killing the Beulah couple.
- Wayne Coldiron — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder
- Donnie Stallworth — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder
Pamela Long-Wiggins is due to be sentenced on September 2 as an accessory after the fact.
Bratt ‘Prowler’ Located Hours After Manhunt
August 4, 2011
The focus of an early Thursday morning manhunt in Bratt has been located by Escambia County deputies, about three hours after they called off a formal search.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Rigby Road off West Highway 4 just before 5 a.m. for a reported prowler. One resident told deputies that she saw a man in her yard. A second resident told deputies he had made contact with the man who told him that he was out of gas.
Deputies located what was believed to be the man’s truck nearby, but it did not appear to be out of gas.
A perimeter was established and an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit responded. The search was called off about 7 a.m. without locating the suspect.
About 10 a.m., several residents in the area called the Sheriff’s Office to report seeing the man. Deputies located him a short time later at a home on Highway 4. The man told deputies that he ran out of gas and went to several houses seeking help. He said he fled when he saw deputies in the early morning hours because he thought he was drunk and he might be arrested for DUI.
No charges have been filed in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.