A woman from Pennsylvania has received two life sentences without the possibility of parole following her conviction for the first-degree murders of her two young children. The tragic incident unfolded nearly five years ago when 4-year-old Brinley and her 8-year-old brother Conner were discovered hanging in their home’s basement.
Lisa Snyder, aged 41, was found guilty of the murders in September 2019. After being removed from life support, the children succumbed to their injuries three days later. During a recent sentencing hearing in Berks County, Snyder showed no emotional response and opted not to address the court directly, as reported by local news sources. President Judge Theresa Johnson, who presided over the case, described the murders as the most heinous she had encountered during her career, emphasizing that Snyder had never expressed any remorse for her actions. In addition to the life sentences, the judge also handed her an added sentence of 8.5 to 17 years for related charges, including child endangerment and tampering with evidence.
Owen Snyder, the 22-year-old brother of the deceased children who was 17 at the time, expressed deep sorrow and anger during the proceedings. He referred to Lisa Snyder as a “monster” and stated that he no longer views her as his mother. Owen lamented that his siblings would never have the opportunity to become an aunt and uncle to his newborn son, and he grieves over knowing he will miss witnessing the individuals his siblings could have grown into. “If I could turn back time I would, just to hear their voices,” he reflected poignantly.
Snyder had initially claimed to authorities that her son had been bullied and had made threats regarding his own life. However, investigations revealed no supporting evidence for her assertions. Surveillance footage from a school bus showed the child appearing untroubled on the day of the incident. An occupational therapist later evaluated the boy and concluded that he lacked the physical ability to inflict such harm upon himself or his sister.
Moreover, police uncovered Snyder’s online searches related to suicide and hanging, alongside inquiries about methods of killing someone, as well as episodes from a true crime documentary series titled “I Almost Got Away With It.” A coroner determined that both children had met their tragic end by hanging, categorizing the deaths as homicides.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Snyder’s defense team argued for acquittal, characterizing the case as grounded in conjecture and speculation. They proposed that Snyder could plead no contest but mentally ill to a lesser charge of third-degree murder, yet the judge ultimately rejected this plea agreement. The case has attracted widespread attention and sparked discussions about child safety and parental accountability.