Kind mum stabbed to death in her bed after selfless act of compassion

It didn’t matter whether they were a loved one or a stranger, Renee Pagel would always help anyone who was struggling.

It was one of the many reasons why everyone wanted to be friends with the compassionate mum-of-three who was ‘out to save the world’.

In 2006, Renee, 41, was working as a nurse practitioner at a local hospital and also taught as a health instructor at an education centre.

Before starting a family, Renee had travelled abroad on medical missions, so no one was surprised she had followed a career that called for compassion.

It was also what made her an attentive mum to her children – seven-year-old twins (a girl and a boy) and a three-year-old daughter. They were her world.

Renee had split from her husband Michael and was in the middle of a difficult divorce. Michael wanted

full custody of their children, which Renee would never agree to.

She also told friends he had his sights set on getting their house in Courtland Township, Michigan, and alimony payments from her too.

It had been playing on her mind as it was being argued out in court, and she confided in her loved ones that Michael’s increasing anger was worrying her.

The former couple were very different in their personalities. While popular Renee was outgoing and full of wit and conversation, Michael was known to be more reserved.

Selfless mum

Despite everything she had going on, Renee still prioritised others. When she found out the dad of one of her students was suffering from kidney failure and needed a new organ, she offered to donate hers.

Renee had lost her mum to the disease and knew how damaging it could be. The man was a virtual stranger, but that was typical of Renee.

In August 2006, Renee donated her kidney, and was resting up at home after a successful operation. But on 5 August, Renee wasn’t answering her phone. A family member went to check on her and stumbled into a horrifying crime scene.

Renee had been brutally stabbed to death in her own bed. She had suffered more than 50 stab wounds to her torso, face and head.

Defensive cuts showed Renee had fiercely fought back, but she had been overpowered. The mum had spent her life helping everyone and was recovering from the most selfless act. Who would want her dead?

Everything about the scene suggested it was a targeted attack and was personal. First responders noted there were no signs of a break-in and nothing had been taken, so it wasn’t a burglary.

In the house, nothing was out of place in the kitchen or the living room, but there was pure anger in the bedroom. The number of stab wounds were unnecessary, so the ‘overkill’ showed sheer rage.

Someone had it in for Renee. To her loved ones, there was only one person who would’ve wanted her dead: estranged husband, Michael.

One of Renee’s friends told police that she had been scared about what Michael might do to her. Renee had allegedly said if anything happened to her, the authorities should look into Michael, as he would be responsible.

When Michael was told about his estranged wife’s death, police noted he didn’t ask many questions about the details of her killing, which was unusual. He offered his alibi by telling them he was at his mother’s house at the time with his children.

There was no denying their divorce was contentious, and he was the only person of interest, but there was no evidence at the scene to connect Michael to the stabbing.

Renee’s loved ones were unwavering in the determination to prove his guilt.

They put up billboards requesting information and posted fliers through doors. They also set up the website whokilledrenee.com and Facebook page Justice for Renee Pagel. Although they soon found themselves under fire, as Michael complained to authorities.

Candlelit vigils

The investigation resulted in no charges and Michael was able to move away with his three children to Saginaw County and start a new life. The murder was classified as a cold case.

But Renee’s campaigners didn’t give up and kept the case in the spotlight as much as possible. They held candlelit vigils and got together to remember her. In their eyes, Michael was the only suspect, but he simply accused them of harassment. More than a decade passed, but they didn’t give up.

Then in February 2020, Michigan State Police announced they had arrested Michael Pagel.

It seemed they hadn’t given up hope of catching a perpetrator either. Some investigators had even retired since Renee’s death, but unsolved cases were not forgotten and it had been re-examined from 2018.

Police said they had probable cause to start proceedings against Michael in an affidavit that said: ‘Through recent interviews, investigators learned Michael Pagel made incriminating statements which led to the discovery of the weapon suspected to have been used in the murder.’ No further details were given.

Murder charge

Michael, now 55, was charged with first-degree murder. At first, he denied killing his estranged wife, but a trial after so many years was going to be traumatic for his children, who were now grown up.

So Michael was offered a plea deal, which he accepted. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, but even then there was a twist in the tale.

Michael said that he had hired his brother to kill his wife. He said that he had provided him with a map and a floorplan, as well as details about how he could enter the home, so he could kill her.

Investigators thoroughly looked into his claim and found no evidence this was true or that his brother had played any part in the killing. Michael might have pleaded guilty, but he still wasn’t taking full responsibility for his actions.

The prosecution said that Michael acted alone and was solely to blame for killing his wife. That selfish act had deprived Renee’s family, and her children, of a wonderful woman.

‘She died a gruesome, painful, horrifying death at the hands of the father of her children,’ they said, all because he was upset about what he would get in the divorce. ‘So he decided to butcher her.’

‘Deeply, deeply sorry’

Michael’s lawyer said that Michael had taken responsibility since his arrest, which had taken a ‘psychological toll’ and he was now prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

‘This was an act that weighed very heavily on his heart,’ they said. ‘He is deeply, deeply sorry.’

Michael spoke in court about his remorse and asked for forgiveness from his children who were in attendance. ‘The stress of the divorce and the custody battle was more than I could take,’ he said. ‘I was not in my right mind.’ Despite still insisting that his brother had played a part, he accepted his fate.

‘I am ultimately responsible, and I regret that very much.’

He told his children that their mother would be very proud to see how well they’d grown up. The irony being that it was Michael himself, who had taken that chance away from Renee.

The agreement allowed the judge to impose the maximum sentence. In October 2020, Michael was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50. After 14 long years, Renee finally had justice.

At the time of her murder, Renee was recovering from a remarkable act of kindness. The exact details of her death might remain unknown, but one fact Renee’s loved ones were always certain of from the very start was that Michael was to blame.

Renee’s intentions were selfless in every way, while Michael’s were purely selfishFollow the Official Rokna NEWS Telegram Channel For More and fresh NEWS.

Mirror