On August 6, 2024, 66-year-old Benjamin Renwick was fatally shot by his husband, George J. Bereska Jr., at their home in Boynton Beach, Florida. The incident occurred around 9:41 p.m. at a residence on the 1000 block of Southwest 20th Street.
The Boynton Beach Police Department received a call from Renwick's phone, during which they heard "moaning and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by silence."
Two minutes later, Bereska called the police, reporting that he and his husband were in a "very bad argument" and that he had shot Renwick in the chest. When the dispatcher instructed Bereska to render aid, he responded, "he's dead."
Upon arriving at the scene, police found Renwick's naked body lying on the kitchen floor, covered in blood, with several gunshot wounds. Three shell casings and a Taurus firearm were discovered, with one casing in the living room and two in the kitchen, and the gun was found on the dining table. There were no signs of a physical altercation or any displaced furniture or items in disarray.
Bereska, 61, was taken into custody and claimed he had been in a "blackout" since 6 p.m. and did not remember anything that happened. He also insisted he was intoxicated, but detectives observed no signs of intoxication, and he showed no injuries or blood on his clothing. While in custody, Bereska used the restroom and appeared neither unsteady nor had any problems following directions, further casting doubt on his claim of intoxication.
Bereska has a prior criminal record in Calvert County, Maryland, where he was indicted for second-degree sexual assault involving a 12-year-old boy in 1995. He eventually pled down to a third-degree sexual offense.
The community, particularly those in the Boynton Leisureville neighborhood and members of the American Legion Post 164, where Renwick was very active, are in shock and disbelief over the incident. Friends described the couple as friendly and polite, and the event has left many devastated.
Bereska is currently being held without bond and faces one count of first-degree murder with a firearm. He made an initial court appearance on the morning following the incident.
