High flying gay couple found dead in their Houston mansion, victims of ‘murder suicide’: cops – Benjamin and Rene Ruiz, just filed for a divorce after 20 years
Glamorous Houston couple Benjamin Ruiz, and Rene Ruiz, were found dead in their home on Thursday night of a suspected murder suicide
Cops believe Benjamin, 52, and Rene, 62, died in a ‘murder suicide’ at their $1.5million Houston home
Laura Mercier creative director Benjamin Ruiz, and his partner Rene Ruiz, who’d been together 20 years had just filed for a divorce
The high flying, international jet-setting with homes in Houston, Texas and Mexico, had just listed their main house for sale as part of the divorce settlement
Police found the pair in an upstairs bedroom with gunshot wounds after a friend called 911 to the home which was listed day earlier
Authorities have not yet identified which of the pair was the trigger man
![Benjamin Ruiz [left] and Rene Ruiz [right] 5.PNG](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Benjamin-Ruiz-left-and-Rene-Ruiz-right-5.png?resize=620%2C639&ssl=1)
Soon to be divorced couple Benjamin Ruiz, [left] and Rene Ruiz, [right], were found dead in their home in Houston home on Thursday night of a suspected murder suicide
A gay couple were found dead in their $1.5million Houston home on Thursday and cops suspect it was a murder-suicide.
Police officers responded to the five-bedroom home on the 4000 block of Markham Street around 9:30pm, after a friend of the couple called police about a concerning text message they received.
They were named on Friday afternoon as Laura Mercier creative director Benjamin Ruiz, 52, and his partner Rene Ruiz, 62.
Benjamin Ruiz was a high-flying creative director for the make-up brand Laura Mercier traveled in rarefied industry circles and mingled with celebrities as part of his work.
The pair lived a glamorous, international lifestyle and had homes in Mexico. They recently vacationed in Buenos Aires and mingled with celebrities all perks of the job for Benjamin.
Their bodies were discovered Thursday inside a bathroom at their million-dollar home on Markham Street near Weslayan, near the Houston’s Galleria.
![Benjamin Ruiz [centre], is pictured with Mercier [left] and Brooke Shields [right].PNG](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Benjamin-Ruiz-centre-is-pictured-with-Mercier-left-and-Brooke-Shields-right.png?resize=620%2C644&ssl=1)
Widely respected sought creative director Benjamin Ruiz [centre], is pictured with Mercier [left] and Brooke Shields [right]
![Benjamin Ruiz [left] and Rene Ruiz [right] 10.PNG](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Benjamin-Ruiz-left-and-Rene-Ruiz-right-10.png?resize=620%2C605&ssl=1)
Benjamin and Rene Ruiz who had been together for 20 years reportedly, but were getting divorced.
On Thursday night however, a friend received a worrying text message and went round to check on them. When no one answered the door, they called 911. Officers arrived and found the couple dead upstairs.
‘At this time it appears to be a murder-suicide,’ Houston Police Department investigator Blake Roberts said.
“It’s not truly set in yet,” said Ben’s longtime friend, Edward Sanchez. “I think deep down inside I’m waiting to hear from him.”
Sanchez said the couple helped pave the path for the Houston gay community. Ben was a cosmetics director at Laura Mercier. The pair who had been together for 20 years reportedly, were getting divorced.
A day earlier they had listed their home for $1.5million, as part of their divorce settlement, it was alleged.
Cops were called out after the men were found dead in their $1.5million Houston, Texas home [photo], Thursday night.
Crime scene: The 4,000-square-foot home was listed for sale the day before, reportedly part of the impending divorce settlement
It was not the couple’s only home. They also had a property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which they visited for New Year recently.
Benjamin gushed about the property in interviews about his work, saying it was where he went to relax.
![Benjamin Ruiz [left] and Rene Ruiz [right] 6.PNG](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Benjamin-Ruiz-left-and-Rene-Ruiz-right-6-1.png?resize=620%2C373&ssl=1)
Jet-setters: Rene Ruiz, [left] and Benjamin Ruiz, [right], had been together for 20 years and had multiple homes and traveled the world in style
The couple traveled frequently, most recently Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta, where they have a home.
It is not clear what Rene did for a living. Unlike Benjamin who had a busy social media foot print, he does not appear to have had any online profile.
Cops said that no suicide note was left behind, and added that they have never been called to the home before for domestic incidents.
To clarify, Renee Ruiz was an extremely successful energy industry executive. He was a Vice President with Targa Resources in Houston. He maintained a social media profile on LinkedIn. Everyone who knew Ben and Renee are deeply saddened by this tragedy.
Amen Wayne!
Are the dogs ok?
It’s been 2.5 years ago and I still can’t believe this happened. It is one of the saddest things I’ve dealt with in my life. I have a heavy sadness every time I think about it to this day. Every time I pass their street it hurts a little.