Glamorous gay couple who were found dead in their $1.5million Houston PART II

Here's Part I

Have we yet found any nude photos of Benjamin Ruiz? Or more photos at least of him in swimwear or underwear?

1 million dollar home fat whore.

Glad as predicted someone who knew one of the men posted here. This trajedy / murder / crime is disturbing to me, a stranger, on several levels. First that young, fit, successful and well regarded man could murder his soon to be ex partner and later husband without any thought to a future and new start like half the population has faced before. Second that there was such extreme hostility at the end, joint restraining orders where once life was enviable to almost any gay man much past his teens or twenties. Also that so much anger and rage in someone who aparently had friends who could have listened or reasoned had they known how much animosity was in the air was non existent. When I looked at photos inside home I imagined how much thought and hours of time went into decorating a murder crime scene.

To insiders, when's the funeral?

R4, thank you for a mature response.

YOUNG?!?

52 may not be elderly, but it is decidedly not "young."

youngish

Very disturbing that police still don't know why this murder-suicide happened!

I love r542 in the first thread attributing this to Latin American tempers. The guys name was Ben Marshall. Just because he took Ruiz as his married name doesn't make him Latin American.

God help me for asking. What was the point of the 1 dormer window above 2nd floor? Any Architects caare to comment?

Thank you OP.

[quote]r11 What was the point of the 1 dormer window above 2nd floor? Any Architects caare to comment?

It's where they put the revolving red light, on Orgy Nights.

Are they still dead?

"52 myself"

20 years ago

The sleek, stylish swimming pool with the seedy commercial building on the other side of the hedge makes me giggle.

R11, I wonder that, too! Sticks out like a sore peen.

R11, conspicuous construction

Gay men are inherently unstable and though a relationship can help them with purpose as they age it also feeds into their neurosis and lack of true social regard. Two men compete with each other, even when in love. Gay men ultimately only care about their sexual viability and money to indulge their particular social desires and aspirations. It's a hedonistic life given some meaning by the illusion of struggle. Gay marriage was a bad idea, because a lasting monogamous gay marriage is more rare than a black president. This murder/suicide is the result of what all gay couples fight about. Sexual competition and tacky personal possessions.

I’m sorry, but the house is hideous. And it gives one insight into the mind or minds of the two men who who occupied its environs.

People generally kill for four reasons: 1) accidentally, 2) self defense, 3) love/passion/broken heart, 4) money.

I’m not sure if Benjamin killed for the last two, of the reasons listed above, but I’d wager that those were his motives. People also kill for revenge, but revenge homicides are pretty rare.

I suspect Benjamin was hopped up on meth, cocaine, or just drunk as fuck.

Both of them could have bounced back from the divorce, and could have continued on without one another. It’s a shame that Benjamin didn’t see things that way.

The only good part to this story is that no children were brought into the marriage via surrogacy or adoption, and no one has to grow up wondering why their parents died such an awful death.

They gave great parties. After every formal parties, they always had the hottest orgies! René was the center of the orgies with huge thick cock!

While I agree with the predominating opinion that the house is nothing to look at from the outside, I have to say that there were several rooms which seemed quite nicely done to me.

I'm so glad to see the dormer window weighing in on this.

R12, thanks for your thanks.

Definitely would do something different for $1.5 million. It’s neither here not there. Not classic and not modern. The dreaded “transitional” mish mash .

The only one saying this was a "$1.5 million" house was the realtor who was trying to sell it. Let's see what it actually sells for.

The house is McMansion-adjacent, at best. And why no bloody landscaping? Tsk tsk

R19, you’re single aren’t you.

The interior of their home was considered the Versailles of Houston. An invitation to their home was prized in Houston.

Doubtless.

Why is thread 2 dying out? Has the DL news cycle moved on from the glamorous gay couple murder-suicide already?

What more news is there?

I still have questions, which I am not sure will ever be answered:

Who sent the worrisome texts to their fat friend and what was the content of said texts?

Who is Rene’s new piece?

Was Ben on drugs when he murdered Rene?

Why that supersalient dormer window in the attic?

R28, Did you know them or go to parties at their house? What are people who knew them saying or thinking?

r20, why would you want Benjamin to RIP? He's a murderer!

I think we're all waiting for 130 from the original thread to attend the funeral and report back.

R25 if you read the threads, pompous cunt, you'd know the house is listed for 1M.

if YOU read the threads, R35, you pompous cunt, you'd see the headline says 1.5M. As does every report on this.

This is the reason for the dormer window

The police need to CHECK THAT ATTIC. The dormer window is trying to tell us that the real killer is still up there.

Okay, I can understand that love ends, people break-up, people are sad. But why KILL someone then kill YOURSELF?

Didn't Dateline teach anybody that you hire a hitman then collect the insurance? Or just shoot him then wound yourself, and make it look like a home invasion (inheritance)?

r39 Because he's beyond that, he wants no one else to have his lover either and wants to be out of here, very dramatic but better than those assholes that you refer to that shoot themselves in the arm but shoot the others fatally.

[quote]The interior of their home was considered the Versailles of Houston.

The Versailles of Houston? Oh come on....I'm sure Houston has hundreds of homes with over-the-top interiors that would put that one to shame..

R37, I knew Ben was one of those Burnt Offerings queens the second I saw him.

Are we happy these two are dead?

Lile R19. How is that person not red tagged?

Haven't seen any new red tags in several weeks. Plus he probably got some W&Ws from that, based on the current climate around these parts.

Isn't Houston also the home base of the Bush Crime Family?

R28 That's not true. There are plenty of old-money mansions in Houston, in the River Oaks, Memorial and Tanglewood neighborhoods.

Their little McMansion on that forlorn-looking street did not inspire awe in anyone. Or a desire to visit it.

I don't know about the inside of that double death house, but the outside, to me, could not look more sterile and cold.

True r36 but OP's an idiot who repeated the error in this thread's title. However, if you read the threads, cunt, you'd know the house has benn listed for 1M not 1.5.

Houston just looks like the heights of glamour to me!

R50 Well, it lacks the Trumpian glamour that NYC is famous for.

I have been to parties at their home and interior was beautiful and looked like it belonged in Architectual Digest.

Oh brother, if you think any homes in AD are worth even 1.5 million, I have a bridge to sell you...

Here's my $.02 on the house and its interiors: I would bet good money that there was not one single house in Houston of an equal price point which was as beautifully done. Sure, those River Oaks mansions would outshine it, but for 1.5 mill, it looked damn good inside.

[quote]r48 I don't know about the inside of that double death house, but the outside, to me, could not look more sterile and cold.

Their MARRIAGE had gone sterile and cold, It seeped into their design choices,

The house actually has two dormers.

Maybe they [italic] each [/italic] used one, to keep on the lookout for fresh meat?

WHAT IS IN THE ATTIC!

So much fuss about the mysterious attic that we’ve neglected the Fonzie apartment above the garage.

The WHET Baby Jane gate in the driveway looks all the more preposterous with the modest ranch home in view next door.

I’ll confess, I’m envious that they lived almost next to the Costco.

[italic]House of Evil, House of Tears...

Goddamn it, they have two dormer windows of different styles, one rounded, one square!

Who does that? Did an architect do that? Did they design it themselves?

Was there any kind of backyard? Was there a pool?

[quote]R61 Goddamn it, they have two dormer windows of different styles, one rounded, one square! Who does that?

I know it's hard to view shocking crime scenes like this.

Breathe...

R56 ty for sharing. R61, I agree, no disrespect to designer who did make a nice house. This reminds me of homes going into established neighborhoods nrar The Grove and Crescent Heights in Los Angeles. They did create a beautiful home. So sad and tragic as stated by many above. River Oaks makes Beverly Hills and the Hamptons look pedestrian and Green Acres territory.

Also, why is that window on the square dormer so small and oriented horizontally when all other windows of the house are vertical? It's like they went to a u-pull-it graveyard for house fittings and bought whatever the hell they saw.

R63, thanks. I'm trying.

[quote]R65 It's like they went to a u-pull-it graveyard for house fittings

Originally, I thought it might have been an argument over wallpaper that sparked the killing.

Now I wonder if it was these windows.

While we critique their house design, I hope a clearer picture emerges as to why 22 year relationship ends in murder/suicide be two men who were both healthy functioning in their careers and looking "fabulous" stylish to coworkers neighbors and friends????

Maybe he was a fuckhead and maybe he had a cunt on the side?

[quote]R68 Maybe he was a fuckhead and maybe he had a cunt on the side?

The latter has been established, Betty.

All that's left is to find him.

R56, from that angle, if you kind of squint, the two windows are the eyes of a huge malign house-frog, with the lower edge of the black roof the wide mouth. Makes me think of the Thurber cartoon in which some shnook is entering a house-woman.

Murder suicides are equal opportunity tragedies. Why is everyone obsessing about the fact they are gay? What does that have to do with anything? Aren't we beyond 80's warped homophobia????

It's undiagnosed mental illness and over availability of guns

It's the glamma.

I don't think anyone is obsessing over them being gay r71, at least not here, we are wondering the usual, was the side piece hot? etc.

And who was hung.

Bitches be tripping....

Why was René not in the family Christmas portrait?

omg, is that the killer r76? Damn it, I hope he was slapped viciously before he shot his husband.

I do not understand what happened. Benji loved René!

R77, You should go ti befunning of this thresd and click on 1sr link. Multiple pictures there...

[quote]R76 Why was René not in the family Christmas portrait?

He was detained at the Motel 6

Is this the back yard of their home?

R70, I get it!

Was there a lot of rimming?

That room at R76 is so hilariously pretentious.

The faux European villa decor has no relation to the architecture of the house.

Every piece of furniture is new, not antique, not heirloom. And ugly. Those clocks might be the real thing... but setting it down on that table looks so stupid and those vases on those pedestals...

The kitschy saccharine romantic landscape paintings are probably knockoffs

The sofa is very nice and the tapestry might be good... but you can throw together a room like this cheaper than it might seem.

Right at the beginning, this picture convinced me that Benjamin was the one who did it:

Rene had sad eyes.

Why does '62' look more than 72?

Ben had L’eggs for days! Now they are forever gone! RIP you gorgeous pair of pins!

So what happens to their Instagram accounts? They just stay up forever when some dies?

R89 who is going to deactivate it? I have a dead friend on FB and her profile is still up 6 years later.

R90 HIs sister should deactivate his accounts. Or may his nieces from The Shining.

R91 - well done! The Shining girls were the first thing I thought when I saw that photo!

The great shame of living in Texas - Houston, at that - finally became too much for them. Benjamin acted bravely. It had to be done.

R93 No. It was the idea of living in a city without Barbara Bush that pushed him over the edge.

R76, it looks like Aaron Schock decorated that room.

What an ugly, faux, chintzy photograph. Do rich Texans not realize how ridiculous they look?

R95? You forgot to add "cockgobbler"!! I almost didn't recognize the name without it. Shame on you!

Shut your damn mouth, R96!

The saddest part that the shooter could not Move on! He had family, career and friends who cared unlike many of us here. The partner probably had cause to "move on" with new boyfriend. Doubt Houston Datalounge posters who knew them or had ideas will post here due to heinousness of crime. Thos is now a Karmic situation for the once lovers of 22 years.

Their home represented the best of Texas ambiance and decor. Few in Houston had their distinctive sense of style.

Does anyone know the plans for burial, funeral or memorial services?

May 15th for Rene, R101.

Rene's obituary at link. No mention of ex in it.

[quote] Rene was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was known for an infectious smile, roaring laughter, a love of Mexican music and for his dogs, Paco, Annie, Barbie, and Victoria. He enjoyed traveling around the world, especially to his home in Mexico.

So sad that René's mom has to bury her murdered son. :(

How old is Rene's mom--92? I hope she at least has hired diggers for the coffin's hole so she doesn't have to do it herself.

The obit reads as though Rene was never married and Benjamin never existed.

Good r105, I am always shocked when I see things like Laci Peterson, for example, tombstones with the name of her murderer on it. He deserves to be scrubbed, the family doesn't want to waste the ink.

The murder/suicide was probably like Paul Snider's murder of Dorothy Stratten that was followed by his suicide. ben probably just lost it at Rene and killed him out of rage (thus the multiple shots at Rene), and then when he realized what he had done and how fucked he was going to be with a murder charge over his head, and he then did himself in.

I really hope we get a full write-up of this from someone in the know. i would love the full story, and it would have make a great piece for Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair. Unfortunately with this new editor we're just going to get pieces about inspiring people of color from now on.

Ink on grave stones?

Ink in the obit, smartass at r108. Papers used to be actually printed with ink and paper, it's just an expression.

You were talking about tombstones, not obituaries. Or were we supposed to read your mind that you had moved on to obituaries?

[quote]i would love the full story, and it would have make a great piece for Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair. Unfortunately with this new editor we're just going to get pieces about inspiring people of color from now on.

Eat shit.

I'd rather just block you, r111.

I drove by their home this afternoon and it's not as hideous as it looks in the photos. At least not on the outside.

It's much closer to the street than I thought, so the lack of landscaping is not too distracting. It's not as oversized for the lot as I imagined, and the alabaster coloring is striking on a sunny day.

However, the street and neighborhood are far from prestigious, although the homes are way overpriced because of their location. I'm sure that played into this tragedy.

[quote]R107 The murder/suicide was probably like Paul Snider's murder of Dorothy Stratten

In that, you mean,the killer sodomized the corpse before offing himself?

TMI (!!)

R113, thanks for the update.

Were there any flowers outside? (Like, has it been turned into a shrine?) Was it empty? Are there cops or journalists?

[quote] In that, you mean,the killer sodomized the corpse before offing himself?

No, that's not what i meant. Read my post again.

R107, don't you just hate it when that happens? There's some perfectly fine publication with stories about Justin Bieber and instagram stars and then a new editor revamps the rag and it's MLK this and Cesar Chavez that. Who gives a fuck about that stuff?

R113, Did you know of them before the crime? Had you read about parties or seen them in local papers?

Is Benjamin having a funeral? What was his real last name?

R118, now and then there'd be a squib about Ben doing some makeup tutorial or Rene contributing to some charity. And they'd be photographed at events.

Does anyone think that the funeral home's site with the obit and dates of visitation and funeral seemed a bit off with the border of puppies?

I have never seen anything quite like that.

I am considering sending a tasteful floral tribute on behalf of us Data Loungers.

Lilies or something less funereal?

Has it been revealed who the homewrecking side piece was, who wrought this?

Had he been added to the will and life insurance policies yet?

LET HIM SHOW HIS FACE!

Someone needs to go to the funeral and see who is dressed in Jackie O. clothes and throws himself on the casket!

Or 5 of us can just start giving out interviews? The public can VOTE as to who they think is the real one.

What caused Benji to become a crazed homocidal deranged murderer?

I think the main thing (as it usually is in those true crime TV shows) had to have been money. The older one was leaving the killer for a younger man, and was taking his assets away with him. Ben was losing the house, their vacations and parties...he'd just be another aging makeup artist, adrift.

Honestly, he sounds like Betty Broderick or any number of spouses who pour their whole identity into a marriage/relationship, and when that falls away....FREAK THE FUCK [italic]OUT! [/italic] They're all exterior (as that ridiculous, vulgar Xmas card shows)

Yep r126, that's why the gay thing doesn't even matter. It's just another sad case of a spouse being traded in for a younger model.

The crux might not even have been being [italic]replaced[/italic] (though I'm sure that didn't HELP)

Such people just panic when they feel they're losing everything. They can't live without their dreams. He might have had the same reaction if the husband just said he was breaking up to "find himself".

What do we think Ben's makeup artist income was?

Unremarkable. I imagine he was paid decently when he worked, as far as that field's concerned, but it's not like it was some bonanza.

ITA with R126.

Question. The house looks too tall. Did they hav 12' ceilings on both floors or something? Is that a thing?

That family Christmas card is beyond creepy, Was it meant to be a joke like those tacky old west photos people get when they go to carnivals? It looks like a studio or movie set with phony props. The kids are costumed and making bored faces on purpose as if to imitate children in a victorian photo. And who sends out joint Christmas cards with their siblings? Even more weird to do it when you're married.

Rene died for pinga!

I wonder what happens with the poor pets?!? They had dogs right?

Ben called this aspirational disaster of a room the "library."

If DL had its own edition of "Clue," this would be it.

Rene's funeral is being held in his hometown of San Antonio, about 4 hours west of Houston, on a workday morning. I assume the family wants to keep it small.

So, no one will wager on the propriety of the dogs on Rene's obituary? Has anyone else even seen it?

It would be different if they were HIS dogs. but they are just generic stand-ins.

I ordered a lovely 5 year old tree to be planted in his honor. From here forward it shall be known as the Rene Ruiz- Data Lounge weeping fig.

R135 One of the nieces is named Madison, it appears.

I wonder how little Maddy is processing this all?

From someone's reply re: R135 Instagram pic:

[quote]Beautiful picture merry Christmas and may the New Year be filled with love and prosperity.

Well, that didn't work out...

"Glamorous" Cringe. Kys op.

Am I the only one who thinks it’s uncool to dump a decades-long partner for a younger model?

I mean, not justifying murder/suicide. But that’s a dick move

The younger one was entitled to half the assets, IMO

I think we have to star a GoFundMe page for little Victoria, adopted by the sister (?) She is going from her faux fabulous Houston villa to a tract home with three screaming kids.

r141 Nope, that's why Bets Broderick is so loved. It's a dick move alright, and I bet he regretted it when that gun came out.

R142 LOL

The thing is that if he hadn't killed himself, he could have given a great courtroom speech like Bets did. (ie "You get your hair done.")

How do we know there was another younger man?

[quote] LET HIM SHOW HIS FACE!

Or better yet, his ass.

W&W r93 !

WHERE'S THE BOY TOY ? ? ?

Why are the police withholding this information???

Maybe it's not a boy, but a much younger wealthy woman who is an heiress?

This event is by far the saddest and most heartbreaking personal situation I have read on DL in years. Each person had so much life and reason to life together or separately. Reading about the endng for these two Married Gay men is like walking from a Horror film into broad daylight and wishing you had not seen the film!

r151: MARY!!!

He had it coming.

"Married Gay" in caps?

Well, the vows do say [italic]Till Death Do Us Part...

Yes, r154! Gay men could not be Married for 1,000 's of years. This union sunk after 22 years like the Titanic however it was no accident.

I agree that this is one the saddest mysteries on DL. I wish we knew what really happened here?

Are you serious r157?You think this is sadder than that lesbian couple who murdered those kids? This is not that sad or uncommon, two shallow people marry and part for shallow reasons and one snaps. It happens everyday.

"Husbands die every day, Dolores..."

Right r159, if anything it just shows that marriage is marriage, and that sometimes your spouse will tire of your shit and murder you, gay or straight. Equality!

[italic]When Fur Babies Aren't Enough: The Benjamin Ruiz Story

OT: What I think is additionally rather sad is that his employer Laura Mercier has simply erased Mr. Ruiz from their site. Which is understandable, but...he did work for them for 20 years, and probably thought of the company as family.

I guess "Global Makeup Ambasadors" are easily replaced!

Geez. That video really brought it home. All that talent gone.

Strange to see him working so delicately on her eyes, when you know about the violence that came. He looks just a bit like a darker Robert Conrad. Has the dimples too.

Flawless face:

Der perfekte Teint:

I don't really find him to be an amazing makeup artist or anything, from those videos. This is the skill level you might see at one of your better department store counters.

Though i WILL say a friend of mine really likes Laura Mercier's liquid foundation. It has a lot of pigmentation in it, and gives good coverage.

Disagree R167. There are thousands of make up tutorials on line by so called "artists". Most are drag queen level clownish. The clip @ R162 was subtle with a very attractive outcome. He was quite talented, attractive and articulate. Shame.

I know this is awful of me and I’m going to hell in a hand-basket - I own it!

But this is how I imagined the cheating partner met his fate...

He was no Kevyn Aucoin.

Back to the Addams family Christmas pictures. Are those girls twins? Could be fraternal. They are about the same size. One is called Madison and the other Madelyn. He calls them "The Maddys". WTF? Why would his sister give her daughters names that are identical when shortened? Creepy. Those pics look like stills from twisted horror movie.

Does anyone in Houston have any information on who will take their place in society? TIA

As a model, the best makeup artist I ever worked with was Gregory Arlt from M.A.C. Adam Christopher was also exceptional.

^^ Were you a model for Mortuary Gazette magazine?

R172, How sad that thosr kids from fun Christmas photo are dealing witb untoward actions of their uncle.

That Christmas photo tells me everything about Ben I need to know. It's not even ironic in a hipster way, they actually think they look like Old Money. Unfortunately I saw a lot of this when I lived in Texas. So many framed fox hunting paintings bought for 30 bucks at TJMaxx.

R175 Probably worse. I've wiped most of it out. Really, when you're not famous, it's anyone who pays.

Maybe the Christmas portrait wasn’t intended to be all that serious, R177. I liked it.

It wasn't done well if you can't tell if it was ironic or not, R179. And it's still weird and creepy for middle aged people, who don't live together, to pose for a Christmas card with their siblings. Even more so when they both, presumably, have partners who are absent from the photo.

What will happen to “The Shining” nieces? Did the house drive Ben to madness?

Is that awful Addams family library in the murder house? Or were the photos taken on location somewhere -- like a wax museum?

"Tasteful friends" will post when the house goes up for sale right?

No...that's the House of Horrors, itself.

No one should have a library like that if they don't live at Buckingham Palace. Anywhere else, unless it's a historical estate, looks absolutely ridiculous.

R172, one kid is called "Son" and the other is called "Mad."

^^In his comment for the pic on Instagram he calls them "The two Maddys"

Has Laura Mercier used this news to boost its brand?

[quote]Has Laura Mercier used this news to boost its brand?

Yes, she's releasing a new lipstick called "Glamorous & Deadly."

It should be in Sephora stores next month.

^^ they were shooting for "Blood Red" but that name was trademarked.

"Bang Bang"

R191 That reminds me: the fabulous Nancy Sinatra on the floor singing "Bang Bang".

I guess you could immagine it being a bathroom floor if you want to.

(better link)

Why in God’s name is anyone calling Ben hot? Not to mention that he is a cold-blooded murderess, but worse, he had no lips! Wouldn’t have given him the time of day. Sorry.

R193 ?? That's NOT a better link.

Have to sex videos come out yet? They used to record the orgies at their platial estate.

[quote] Why in God’s name is anyone calling Ben hot? Not to mention that he is a cold-blooded murderess, but worse, he had no lips!

It's not his lips I'd be after....

[quote] Why in God’s name is anyone calling Ben hot?

That's less eye-rolling then calling the couple "glamorous".

Maybe you are forgetting his age. Hot is in context.

I say for a man in his 50s, Ben was very hot. Both men and women loose lip tissue as they age. Men especially can end up looking almost lipless by the time they hit 60.

R194, finally someone else who appreciates the hotness factor of lips!

Together for 22 years and then kicked to the curb for a bought side-piece. they only got married in 2016 so Ben was fucked financially. Drove him over the edge.

were they both bottoms?

R202 -- Both were well-endowed tops, according to a friend of theirs on the previous thread. Apparently they liked three-ways.

That's not a Christmas card, that's set photography from The Shining.

R198 Glamorous oh flossy flossy Their theme song

They both were versatile and hung. René was hung huge, close to 9 thick.

So who was Rene’s younger piece and how is he dealing with losing his gravy train?

[quote]So who was Rene’s younger piece and how is he dealing with losing his gravy train?

THIS is what the Specil Council of the Maiden Aunts Brigade is trying to ascertain, as we speak.

Someone will give him up soon. THEN we shall act.

The little strumpet's head shall be shorn in the town square, for starters.

[bold]#Justice4Benji

Will the younger "other man" be at Rene's funeral today?

A bit surreal to call a room without any books "the library".

Two tops don't make a couple; they make a team. Not a stable combination.

It's also, dare we say, [italic]SELFISH.

"Two tops"?!?!? That's the funniest thing I've heard all week.... Thanks

We haven't heard all sides, ya know...

Any chance the sidepiece staged the murder-suicide and killed them both? I’m getting a Velma Kelly vibe from this whole thing.

R215 if the hoe managed to get EVERYTHING in the will then maybe.

Did anyone go to Rene's funeral today?

[quote] #Justice4Benji

You said it

The movie of their lives has been released!

Did they have a gloryhole in that garage?

Garage was a large dungeon!

Dan Broderick was rich and hot but since he shared neither his money nor his sizemeat with us it's better that Betty did what she did!

Dan Broderick was Hot's cousin, Not Hot. He had beady fucking eyes and a flare-y nose like his poor kids inherited, he was also a prick. The only reason I am truly sad he got offed is because Linda never got to know the pain of also being traded in for a younger model.

r223 = fish

Rene died a horrible death...shot in the head.

Shot in the head is actually the best you can hope for r225, you die right away. It's better than a gut shot for sure.

How did they get the guns for the murder?

Who are they r227? It was the one guy and he probably had a gun since he lived in Houston or he bought one.

Doesn't every gay boy in Texas pack a big gun? René was mega huge hung & Benji did not want to it up!

R225, the autopsy said husband had 3 gun shot wounds, one in the head and the shooter one shot in the head.

Benji was the best bottom in Texas!!!!

[quote] Benji was the best bottom in Texas!

Everybody knew he liked it ruff.

What sad tragic story. I don't understand how someone could kill like this?

How sweet and naive of you at r234. I don't understand why you're so puzzled, married people do this every day. And not to cast aspersions at the grooms, but these seemed to the rather shallow types that would anger very easily over the loss of material goods and even more at the thought of being replaced. Show me a couple of uggos, gay or straight, and you're gonna have a couple that will never snap like this.

I thought gay men were happy, peace loving people, not murderers!

The sexual orientation of peace?!?!

For $1.5 in Manhattan, you get a studio apartment in the ghetto

But at least it’s not in godforsaken Houston, of all places

What exactly was "glamorous" about these two?!?! This thread is hilarious with some of the comments about how they were great pillars of "the community".. Lol. These two were pure trash with money. The one on the right looks like he's about to burst into tears at any moment. I think the one knew how miserable they both were, and decided to end the misery....SAD

Thoughts and prayers/the sky was so blue...

Wow. I watched the one Laura Mercier viddy linked above that is still available. Benjamin sounds like a fussy high school drop out. Terminal gay voice and a poor command of English. Why on earth did no one at Laura Mercier spot his grammar errors before those vids were unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

His suits don't fit properly. He had no lips and TERMINAL GAY VOICE. We all know that sometimes the sissiest guys are relentless tops, but it is still difficult to thing Benjamin was a top. How Rene lived with that voice for 22 years is beyond me.

The Hershey Highway is the road to eternity!

They were respected members of Houston's community. The whole murder and suicide is devasting and very difficult for for most us in Texas to understand.

They were an inspiration to the young people of Houston!

I afraid to marry after this bloody mess.

I am getting DIVORCED after this bloody mess....moving and changing my NAME!

Agree on the voice R263, but WTF are you talking about with the grammar? He communicates well in that vid.

r242, please point out his grammatical errors and where his command of English is poor. He speaks like the average white American to me (with gay voice).

[quote]please point out his grammatical errors and where his command of English is poor. He speaks like the average white American to me (with gay voice).

I also don't understand the business about bad grammar... he sounds fine.

He does have major gay voice, but it's a up-scale fashion-world gay voice, not a grating nelly queen gay voice.

In the video he presents himself very well. The perfect spokesman for a line of deluxe cosmetics.

Not quite r238. $830,000 for a large one bedroom on cpw and 92nd/ the Ardsley building. Plus you get to have neighbors such as Mariska Hargitay, Swoosie Kurtz, and David Duchovny. Babs used to live in the building and Mariah Carey was turned down by the co op board for her apt.

This glam fabulous couple will be greatly missed what with all the great things they did and all the lives they saved with incredible selflessness.. But, the smart one realized that deep down their lives were meaningless and void of real purpose. Fortunately he knew how to "fix" that..

1. Twice he misuses the word "imbue."

2. Near the top of the video, he says something about the product being for women the woman who wants to "rely on less brushes." Fewer. Fewer brushes. "Fewer" is used for things that are countable, for example, bullets. "Less" is used for mass nouns, like water, salt, or... blood.

3. He pitches the product to the woman who "wants that youthful glowy dew." It's so awkward in the video. And inarticulate.

Given that he is the "Director of Global Creative Artistry" and that the video is a published promotional piece for a company's products, there are a lot of language problems for a three minute and 29 second video. They should a have been spotted by someone and fixed. Given his title and his prominence in the video, he has to own those errors. Not the worst errors he would ever make, I grant you, but they are his.

R253 marked up the transcript with red lipstick

Oh, R254! People above asked for the objections. It seems they could not figure it out for themselves.

As a courtesy, I responded. So, yes, I had to listen to the whole goddamned thing again. But I used a black pen for notes. No lipstick was harmed.

At least you can rest easier knowing that he will never make those types of mistakes again

"wants that youthful glowy dew." is perfectly fine for an off-the-cuff sales pitch.

His use of the word "imbue" may very well be cosmetician talk.

Apart from "less brushes" I just don't see his English as being so terrible.

It's not an off-the-cuff sales pitch. It's a promotional video published to the world wide web.

It's an off-the-cuff sales pitch. It was not written by a copywriter.

R180 I agree about the creepy and inappropriate Christmas card. So very Flowers In The Attic. Also R180 "loose lips?" That gave a very unpleasant mental image. Does anybody notice how often people confuse and misuse the words "loose" and "lose"?

Oops! Second half was meant for R199

I think he was just a little nervous and transposed the phrase, "youthful dewy glow".

What a bunch of critical, miserable, wanna be bitches this thread has coaxed out.

Some of you have never seen a blooper reel? Outtakes? Everyone working in front of a camera makes mistakes, from time to time. But if you want to be taken seriously, you fix mistakes before you publish. If you recognize there are mistakes and you know how to fix them.

As a matter of fact *this* might be a better example of a Glamourous Gay Couple:

I doubt there has been a pair of glamorous gay guys after Noel Coward got old. Certainly none since the invention of Instagram.

Yes, the socks-less couple is certainly more attractive if that was your point R265, but for all we know one of them may end up shooting the other.

I will bet good money that two years ago not a soul could imagine the Houston couple Ruiz ending up as they did either. What looks beautiful on the outside is not always as it seems.

R265 - oh those bitches will definitely try to kill each other one day...

Yes, the couple at R265 are probably already living apart. It's just a matter of time before they implode.

All gays cheat and are looking for younger husband

That's right!

Has Rene's will been read? Whose the younger man who inherites his estate?

Rene's mother is alive, right? That's where the money would be going.

All kidding aside this is one sad story all the way around. I bet 20 20 or Dateline will be doing episode on this couple very soon.

Law & Order will do this story 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. The shock ending will be the corrupt white male business executives of Laura Mercier Cosmetics arranged the murder because whistleblower Ruiz was going to expose their fiendish human experimentation.

Money is going to go to younger boyfriend, who he left the cosmetologist for.

Does anyone in Houston who posts here have an idea why they were ending 20+ year relationship? I don't think it was the new young boyfriend. There had to be something more of a precouser.

Precursor..

R276, did you read that, or are you the poster R130 (one of their friends)?

Well Houston what happened?

Was there any death notice or funeral for the cosmetologist murderer?

My heart breaks for friends and family.

The Life & Times of Benjamin Ruiz, the People's Princess

Yikes r265.

Dr in the instagram handle, MD in the name, and doctor in the bio.

Dude, we get it. You graduated from med school.

He didn't go to 8 freekin' years of evil med school to be called Mister Evil r284! It's Doctor!

R282 is the reason conservatives laugh at us and will continue to defeat democracy at every level... Fuck you and your "breaking heart" you filthy, sociopathic cunt. These two were NOT upstanding in any way. Two sad queens obsessed with youth and money.. If there were a hell, they'd be rotting there....

r286 Has stated her boundaries! Of course it's sad though, I mean, they had family and friends and didn't think it would end like this. It's always sad when this happens and heteros do it all the time and conservatives don't hate them. That's an odd thing to say.

Two aging, cheating, narcissistic party queens with horrendous interior design taste kill each other and Houston is reeling? Gimme a break.

I think it rather that a few people in a gay bar or two in Houston are reeling. And drug dealers, of course. They obviously lost the motherlode when those two exited the planet.

There will be a youth scholarship established in their names.

How come this story hasn’t entered our national gun control debate?

Houston is too big and diverse to be reeling about one murder-suicide, gay or straight. It happens frequently in large cities, and only occasionally makes the local news.

They were leaders of the gay community and the community is devastated by this murder- suicide!

When will the videos of their sex parties come out?

If it weren't for the house, this wouldn't have made the news.

Their home was the Versailles of Texas.

If it weren't for the Daily Mail, we wouldn't be discussing it.

Their homes were in Architectural Digest.

No they weren't.

they had a beautiful home.

Their home was the Taj Mahal of Houston.

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum.

Exactly, R302. And death is the only thing that links the Taj Mahal to that p.o.s. house in p.o.s. Houston.

[quote] If it weren't for the Daily Mail, we wouldn't be discussing it.

Thank god there is at least ONE remaining source that provides news. Even if now we have to look across an ocean.

Why hasn't the Second Mrs. Ruiz been outed and interviwed yet...the homewrecker, the impetus?

The cunt! Who was only brought on by the fuckhead.

It wasn't a Taj Mahal. More like a Taj Mahell.

BTW, the more we learn about Betty B's story - the more we like her!

Betty B is fantastic and had many good reasons for doing what she did. But why did Ben kill Rene? The younger guy is only a rumor.

I thought he had moved out and filed for divorce while Ben was away, that's pretty telling that there's a side chippie involved. Said whore backed the wrong horse, I guess. Next time choose a man who is already single.

Um, Ben killed Rene then himself because he was cray. No other reason. Doesn't matter if Rene fucked all of Texas or decided to move to the Moon with those ratfaced pooches of theirs, without Thunder Thighed Ben. Bitch was unstable if he thought any of that was worth killing over.

Houston, What are those who knew them saying? Like with Andrew Cunanan there must be lots of speculation?

Friend in Houston, has report on alcohol/drugs in the Ben's body been released to family? (Is it called toxicology? I don't know.)

Betty B was and remains a bitch. Period. There is nothing redeemable about her or excuse for what she did.

Yes there is!

I posted elsewhere I want to see the Lifetime movie with Matt Bomer and Nathan Lane.

[quote]r315 Betty B was and remains a bitch. Period. There is nothing redeemable about her or excuse for what she did.

Well, she worked three jobs to put her husband through both medical and law schools, while raising four kids.

That's quite a lot, actually. Have you ever given that much?

René worked hard to put Ben through Cosmetology School!

What's with cosmetology and murder? The deranged gay professor in Chicago murdered his cosmetologist boyfriend last summer!!!!

[quote]r319 René worked hard to put Ben through Cosmetology School!

You know, that's very true. And René was probably additionally burdened with feeding and walking their two yappy furballs during those years....and then while Ben was ever-traveling for his demanding career as a Laura Mercier "global ambasador".

Global cosmetology ambassador Bem must have a fuck buddy topping him in every port he visited, while René had those silly dogs!

No wonder René was desperate to escape!

Ben was probably bent on achieving global dominance for the Laura Mercier brand, and it became all-consuming.

There's a conspiracy theory going around that Ben didn't do it.....but that they were both murdered by the Global Cosmetology Ambassador of Esteè Lauder.

I always thought that Ben was framed for the murder!

[quote]There's a conspiracy theory going around that Ben didn't do it.....but that they were both murdered by the Global Cosmetology Ambassador of Esteè Lauder.

He simply knew too much....about a moisture-rich, long-lasting blusher that's still in development.

He simply new too much

Maybe you're on to something.

DL solved another one!

I was first.

All this time I thought it was the Russians!

They died horrible, needless, bloody deaths. Ghastly.

Not needless, R331. Everybody has to die sometime.

The really died protecting cosmetic secrets?

[quote]R331 They died horrible, needless, bloody deaths. Ghastly.

Look, good blusher's important. If Ben had to die for The Cause amidst some clandestine coverup...he did it for all of us.

I thought that Ben and Rene were both tops, and that's why their activities were always three and foursomes???

We know René was hung very big, over 9thick uncut and was a total top.

Maybe Rene did surprise anal on top Ben....and this was payback.

[quote]René was hung very big, over 9thick uncut

Thick? Was he packing an anvil?

Any home movies?

Suppose to be a whole vault of videos of their infamous group sex parties.

[quote]Suppose to be a whole vault of videos of their infamous group sex parties.

Sounds like the makings of a new Dan Brown novel!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Many of the bottoms were of course angling for a glimpse of the entire house!

It was like having sex at Versailles!

[quote] They died horrible, needless, bloody deaths. Ghastly.

Just ghastly!

Lots of professional guys are nervous that sex tapes will come out soon with them in very compromising positions!

Due to the value of the sex tapes, The value of their estates has increased dramatically!

Are any of their sex tapes on XTube online?

Their home was the Pickfair of Houston.

Where is the verificatia that they were both hung tops?

No way that make-up guy was a top.

LOL r349!!!

R349 brought me a moment of joy as well.

I imagined it more like a reverse Beauty and the Beast. As soon as those two cheating awful narcissists were dead, the house and all its inhabitants came back to life singing and dancing.

We knew a makeup artist (did Liz Taylor, etc) in LA who was indeed a horse-hung (a thick magnificent 9+) top!

[quote]r350 Where is the verificatia that they were both hung tops?

We read it on the INTERNET, you fool!

[italic]Next question ? ? ?

Ben, the cosmetologist murderer had a PerFuck hairy bubble butt ass to Top.

Is James Franco really making a film on the murder-suicide?

JJ Abrams is interested in the project according to Variety.

Kevin Spacey would make a great Rene and this would be a perfect vehicle for his comeback.

R272 "who's" not "whose." Who is.

Cristoph Walz as Rene, Josh Duhamel as Ben

Oh, that's very good, R362!

Great casting. The sex orgy scenes should be fun to film and watch.

Has the identity of younger other man who was Rene's new lover been revealed?

No, g-dammit. And it's hight time, too.

SOMEONE interview the real estate agents who showed Rene new places. Probably side piece was with him, bitching that none of them were big enough.

Is Brooke the killer??

First she was seen with Ben Ruiz at a Laura Mercier event...then here she is with Kate Spade...

R367 I don't think it's merely a coincidence.

Oh, no! And she comes from such fine aristocratic stock.

....

It seems like Brooke Shields is the female Kevin Bacon.

OMG, whatever you do, don't have a picture taken with Brooke Shields

Poor Brooke! I had no idea she experienced so much loss in her life.

The psychopathic mind is formed very early - -

Woah I had no idea Brooke had it in her!

It's always the quiet ones...

She's going to save us all.

You can see it in her expression. The fix is in.

If she can follow through with that and then find a way to give it up, she'll be exonerated for all the others.

Brooke needs to talk with a lawyer.

Was Brooke Sheilds part of the murder?

R378, you are brilliant.

I want you to know that.

Haha! This thread just got interesting. Nothing came between Brooke and her Calvin. Nothing!

How could she?! She's deranged!

Can we talk?

When is Houston Pride? Any truth to the rumor that this year’s parade floats will be draped in black bunting?

[quote] It seems like Brooke Shields is the female Kevin Bacon.

No she's the female Jessica Fletcher.

She's the female John Wayne Gacy.

The real estate agent selling the house is planning a pride weekend sex party at the mansion to show off the house to potential buyers.

I want an invite to this party!

It should be the sex party of the year!

This thread went from interesting... including some witty humour... to absolutely lame. (R388, 389,390)

It seems like Brooke knew everyone. How did that happen?

Brooke is the key link to solving this murder mystery!

Lori Laughlin in SNAPPED: THE BROOKE SHIELDS STORY, only on [italic]Lifetime.

Has Brooke been interviewed by the police?

There's probably a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiation going on - - will she turn herself in, will they have to come for her, will she be handcuffed in front of her kids, etc.

They will also look into the death of her mother, Terri, who was only 80 when she died.

Will she or the police reveal who René's younger boyfriend is?

Time will tell....

Society Serial Killer is Brooke's best role in a long, long time.

Does anyone have a link to the Architectural Digest article that featured their home in Texas?

I want to see photos of their beautiful home in Mexico. Where in Mexico was their estate located?

"estate.." Ha!

Wasn't it a condo?

[quote]R399 Society Serial Killer is Brooke's best role in a long, long time.

Daphne Zuniga in BROOKE: PORTRAIT OF A SOCIETY SERIAL KILLER, only on Lifetime.

[italic]"She was America's dream girl. First she stole their hearts. Then, she ate them."

Friends in Texas say it was a large estate or horse ranch?

It was a palace in the middle of a manmade lake.

Of semen.

I'm going to see if google is truly my friend, but usually one's main house is the more expensive.

Oh Jesus Fucking Christ!

I just found their fucking condo photos!

R406

(PS No disrespect to the Lord above.)

Mexican estates are cheaper than American condos.

It's me, R406.

Here you go--the "horse ranch estate"--is actually a three-bedroom fucking 4th floor condo that they named after themselves, "Casa Benjamin" so they could rent it when they weren't there. Glamorous, huh?

What a pair of pretentious morons. Is that the best you got, Houston?

You have to admit it's a very nice condo.

For 300k, you too can own a Mexican horse ranch in the sky like they did.

(This is the apartment building next door to theirs.)

I agree, R410.

What a beautiful home. They were truly a magically couple until the unfortunate breakup.

R413,

Break up?

One guy shot the other guy in the fucking head.

Okay, so it was a MESSY breakup...

Probably very slippery as well, with all that blood in stuff in a marble floored bathroom.

(I don't KNOW that it was marble, but from the look of those guys, I think it's a fairly high-percentage guess.)

^^blood and stuff

Surely, there was both blood and stuff, and blood in stuff.

Thanks, man (or woman) at R418.

As real estate tycoons in Mexico, is it possible that this was a staged hit by the cartel?

No, because Brooke Shields does not have any South American ancestry, or holdings.

Did the murderer own the cosmetic company?

Maybe it was a hit by the Avon lady

That apartment is awful. Too much orange. Waaaaay too close to the neighbors' terraces. And that day bed / fuck bench in the bedroom has got to go.

Its a great apartment. I went to an all night orgy there & set up is perfect for ex parties. They were generous, fun men and both will be missed.

Which bedroom of the ranch house did you stay in?

Ranch house? Did they also have a horse of cattle ranch in Mexico?

The Mexican drug cartel that Trump warns about maybe the ones who set up the murder!

With movie coming out of the murder, the value of the house in Texas has tripled!

Billy Santoro was involved in the murder! 😢

Theoretically, one could have been so happy in the beautiful condo... What ruined that?

Does anyone know what was really behind this murder-suicide?

It's Brooke, okay?

She just got tired of their bullshit.

Whe is the movie going to be released. Will Brooke star in the film?

I hope it is a musical.

I would stage the musical in their Mexican condo--Blythe Spirit-like, both in their tighty-whities with open white shirts, as if nothing happened.

I think there should be 4 actors....2 playing them in their younger, underwear-clad days in the Mexican condo, then 2 older actors playing them in the more weathered, final encounter in the empty Texas [italic]manse.[/italic]

(Plus Brookie, of course.)

Scott Rudin is bringing it to Broadway in 2019! Movie in 2020!

R432, the younger one got dumped so he murdered him.

We may never learn more. If this were a higher profile case, text messages from their phones (leading up to the event) would be leaked.

Why can't elder gays get along instead of killin each other?

Where there drugs involved?

It might have been a fight over who got the Mexican condo in the divorce settlement.

I know I'D be desperate to get out of Texas . . .

They were fighting over who would control the cosmetics empire they owned.

René's new boyfriend will inherit his share of the estate. Many of the assets were in René's name.

Are we sure they are dead?

Who was the younger other guy?

Any sex videos available of their infamous sex orgy parties?

Is it true that their Texas home will be turned into a museum?

A museum of WHAT? Poor taste and excessive spending?

Gin and regret

I wish we could read the text messages between them in their final days.

It's going to be a cosmetic museum? Didn't the murderer own a cosmetics company?

When is Ryan Murohy starting to start filming the murders for Anerican Crime Story?

Right. With Jessica Lange playing Rene Ruiz.

George Clooney wants to play Rene.

Will be broadcast on FX next spring.

Did we ever hear what the back story was about this?

Wasn't someone on DL acquainted with the pair and planned to get the lowdown?

Oh shit, I forgot all about these guys! Chris Watts has stolen their thunder.

There was a posting that Ryan Murphy has the film rights and was already filming the murder suicide for Anerican Horror Story?

No way r460! Really? He kind of already did in AHS 1, Murder House, Zach Quinto and the other guy had a murder/suicide thing complete with the murder guy banging twinks and bondage guys on the side.

R460 this is too boring to be made into anything

If these were two skid row queens, there'd be no fuss made.Disgusting.

Has the other boyfriend appear to claim his share of the estate?

Boyfriends don't have a claim on an estate. Beneficiaries named in a will can claim what was left to them in the will. But that's the end of it.

I drove by the Manse on Markham yesterday. Nothing has been changed since May, including a black luxury SUV parked behind the gate in the exact same spot. Someone is cutting the grass, however. This is a typical Houston nouveaux riche mansion, big house on a tiny lot.

I wonder why it hasn't been put on the market yet. Bickering over the estate, perhaps?