Clay (WSYR-TV) – Those who live near a man accused of a violent carjacking, rape and murder in the town of Clay Thursday night say they didn’t know about the child porn charges against him.
Suspect David Renz lives in a Cicero neighborhood along Lakeshore Road – a neighborhood filled with children and young families.
Those that NewsChannel 9 spoke with say they’re shocked not just about the horrific crimes that unfolded Thursday, but that he was accused of child pornography last year.
Barb Carroll lives right behind Renz. She says she never worried about her kids jumping on the trampoline in their backyard.
Her father was the developer for their neighborhood who made it so all of the backyards touched, making it one big lot for neighbors to share.
“My biggest fear is her playing out back. I'm usually in the kitchen, but God forbid I walked away for five minutes, if he took her, I mean she's eight,” Carroll said.
In addition to child pornography charges, Renz is now charged with rape and murder after allegedly carjacking a woman and a child as they left the Great Northern Mall in the town of Clay Thursday night.
Carroll’s 8-year-old daughter Kaitlyn still feels safe with her mom around, but they won't be surprised if friends don't want to come over anymore.
“Knowing that he lives right outside my backyard when I'm outside, it's kind of weird knowing that,” Kaitlyn said.
Carroll’s home isn’t the only one on the block with children. Nearly everyone in the neighborhood has kids, and now they're talking about putting up a fence, something they've been avoiding for years because they like to be able to go out and play together.
Most everyone else in the neighborhood we spoke with said they know very little about Renz, only that they saw him mowing the lawn or shoveling the driveway. No one had ever heard of him causing any trouble.
