A defense attorney in the case of Lisa Snyder, a Pennsylvania woman charged with killing her two children who were found hanging in their home’s basement five years ago, has criticized the prosecution’s arguments as mere speculation. The 41-year-old Snyder faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, child endangerment, and evidence tampering in the deaths of 4-year-old Brinley and 8-year-old Conner. The tragic incident took place in Albany Township, located around 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Following the conclusion of the Berks County prosecutors’ case, defense attorney Dennis Charles sought an immediate acquittal, asserting that the prosecution’s narrative was built on speculation and guesswork. Although Snyder had mentioned to the police that her son was being bullied and had talked about taking his own life, investigations did not find evidence supporting her claims. Moreover, surveillance footage from a school bus on the day of the incident showed no signs of distress in the boy.
The prosecution highlighted Snyder’s online activities, including searches related to suicide, hanging, and information on causing harm to others. Additionally, they pointed out her purchase of a dog lead on the day her children were discovered hanging using it. However, Charles argued that these searches might indicate suicidal thoughts rather than an intention to harm her children.
The defense also emphasized the lack of substantial physical evidence supporting the prosecution’s case against Snyder. They referred to recordings of Snyder’s 911 call and descriptions of her behavior by emergency responders as consistent with a mother in shock upon discovering her children in such a situation. The defense team plans to argue that if Snyder is found guilty of killing her children, she was not in a state to differentiate between right and wrong due to insanity.
In a previous development, a judge had rejected a plea agreement where Snyder would have pleaded no contest but mentally ill to two counts of third-degree murder. Prosecutors had expressed an intention to seek the death penalty in the case.