In a deeply emotional trial, Lisa Snyder, a 41-year-old mother from Pennsylvania, is facing serious charges for allegedly murdering her two young children by hanging them with a dog leash. This heartbreaking incident occurred in September 2019, when her eight-year-old son Connor and four-year-old daughter Brinley were found hanging in the basement of their Albany Township home. After being rushed to the hospital, both children tragically died three days later when life support was removed.
The trial began last week, and on September 24, Lisa’s surviving son, Owen Snyder, testified against her, expressing his feelings of disconnection:
“I just don’t see her as my mother anymore,” Owen Snyder, 22, said while Lisa Snyder sobbed from her seat, as reported by the Mainline Times & Suburban. Owen rejected his mother’s claims that Connor’s depression led him to take his own life and that of Brinley, noting that Connor’s small size would have made it difficult for him to hang anyone.
“He was a happy-go-lucky kid,” Owen Snyder said.
“He always wanted to be doing something. He was always playing with his little sister.”
The prosecution presented troubling evidence, including Lisa’s phone records. These records revealed searches for phrases like “how to hang yourself” and a recent viewing history of a crime-related show titled “Almost Got Away With It,” all occurring just days before the tragic events.
Prosecutors are pushing for the death penalty for Lisa Snyder, but if they are unsuccessful, she could still face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder. The judge is responsible for the decision in this case, as there is no jury involved. During the trial, Lisa displayed little emotion until her son spoke out against her, at which point she shed tears.
Lisa’s defense team argued that even if she did hang her children, she was clinically insane and should be placed in a psychiatric hospital rather than a prison. They claimed she did not commit the act at all. However, authorities pointed out that Lisa bought a dog leash on the same day her children were found. Additionally, she was the one to call the police to report what she claimed was a suicide, but officers quickly became suspicious, finding no evidence to support her story.
The outcome of this trial will determine the future for Lisa Snyder, as the judge weighs the evidence and testimonies presented during this tragic case.
