Lisa Snyder, a Pennsylvania woman, has been sentenced to two life terms without parole for the murder of her two young children, 4-year-old Brinley and 8-year-old Conner, who were found hanging in the basement of their home five years ago. The children were taken off life support and died three days later. Snyder showed no reaction in court and declined to address the court. The judge called the crime the most violent murder she had seen and said Snyder had shown no remorse.
Snyder’s older son, Owen, called her a “monster” and said he no longer considers her his mother. He expressed regret that his siblings will never get to meet his newborn son or become an aunt and uncle to him. Snyder had claimed her son was bullied and had threatened to take his life, but authorities found no evidence to support her claim. The defense argued the case was based on speculation and “guesswork.”
Evidence presented in court included Snyder’s online searches about suicide, death by hanging, and how to kill someone, as well as her watching a documentary crime series about criminals who almost got away with their crimes. A coroner ruled the children’s deaths as homicides caused by hanging. The defense unsuccessfully sought an acquittal, and Snyder attempted to plead no contest but mentally ill to third-degree murder, which the judge rejected, leading to her conviction of two counts of first-degree murder and additional charges.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com