KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office says the investigation into the disappearance of a Northland mother is now considered a death investigation.
Renee Pernice, 35, went missing Jan. 2.
Based on the weight of existing evidence, the amount of time since she went missing and the fact she has not tried to contact family, prosecutor Dan White says investigators have moved to the next step in the case.
White says he believes foul play is involved.
"She was a devoted family woman," White said. "There has been no contact for more than a month. That indicates she cannot make calls or communicate with family or friends."
In a report released last month, police say they found blood in Renee’s garage and divorce papers in her office.
The report also states that Renee’s husband, Shon Pernice gave conflicting stories about when she disappeared.
"We think the report stands on its own. We believe it shows how hard the police are working," Renee’s father told NBC Action News soon after the report was released.
Renee and Shon have two children together who are said to be staying with their dad. Shon also has a daughter from a previous marriage.
Renee is not the kind of person who would separate herself from her children for any reason, family members have told police.
Shon Pernice told his wife's relatives that he last saw her on New Year's Day, according to an affidavit for a search warrant on the Pernice home, but told detectives several days later that he last saw her on Jan. 2.
