A Houston man who fatally shot his wife in 2021 was sentenced Tuesday to 65 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Domestic violence, like in this case, can go on for years with abuse and threats of violence,” Ogg said. “It is important that we have a Domestic Violence Division that specializes in prosecuting horribly sad cases like this and was able to get justice for the victim.”

Dakari Jahi Lenear, 48, was convicted of murder for killing 45-year-old Rhonda Lenear in the 9500 block of Walnut Glen Drive, just north of Jersey Village, about 5:15 p.m. on May 19, 2021.

Dakari Lenear, who did not have a stable job, was at home with his wife, who worked from home as an engineer, and two teenaged children who were being home-schooled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lenear had a history of threatening his wife, and on the day of the murder he told his kids to go sit in the family’s truck with the music turned up. Once the children were outside the home, one of the teens saw Lenear through the window with his assault rifle, so they texted their mother that they were scared for her.

As her husband carried the gun into the room where she was working, Rhonda Lenear began recording on her phone. He told her that if she wanted to pray, she needed to do it then and that both of them would be dead that day.

Lenear then shot his wife multiple times. The teens called 911 for help.

Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded and found Dakari Lenear in his open garage, and his wife of 20 years was pronounced dead at the scene. Lenear then lied about his wife coming at him with a knife and shooting her in self-defense, which was disproved by the recording she made of her last moments.

Earlier this month, a jury was selected for Lenear’s murder trial. On Monday, after the jury was sworn in, Lenear made the unusual decision to plead guilty as the trial opened. The jury was directed to find him guilty, and Lenear then went to the judge for sentencing.

After two days of evidence, Lenear was sentenced Tuesday to 65 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Marshall, who is assigned to the Domestic Violence Division of the DA’s Office, prosecuted Lenear and said he had  terrorized his wife for years.

“Rhonda bravely audio-recorded Lenear as he was holding an assault rifle and telling her that she would be dead by the end of the day,” Marshall said. “As the recording caught the last moments of her life, she tried to de-escalate the situation. Rhonda’s last words were the names of her children as Lenear murdered her.”

Marshall noted that Rhonda Lenear was a great mother, had a successful career and was a loving, bright, vibrant person who had worked for years to keep her family together.

Lenear must serve at least 30 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole.

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