A Pennsylvania mother accused of hanging her two children with a dog collar in 2019 cried throughout her trial as her surviving adult son denied her guilt.
Lisa Snyder, 41, began her trial last week on charges of first- and third-degree murder in the deaths of her two young children, Connor, 8, and Brynley, 4.
The boy and girl were found hanged from the same dog leash in the basement of their Albany Township home in September 2019. They were taken to a hospital but died three days later after being taken off life support.
Her surviving son, Owen Snyder, testified against his mother on Tuesday.
“I don't see her as my mother anymore,” Owen Snyder, 22, said, as Lisa Snyder reportedly broke down in tears in her seat. Main Line Times & Suburban.
Lisa Snyder had previously maintained her innocence, placing the blame on Connor and claiming that his depression led him to kill himself and Brinley. Owen Snyder explicitly denied the allegations at trial, adding that it would have been difficult to hang someone due to Connor's small stature.
“He was a happy-go-lucky kid,” Owen Snyder said.
“He always wanted to do something. He was always playing with his sister.”
Lisa Snyder's phone records were also analyzed during the trial, including Google searches for “how to hang yourself” and recent viewing of the show “They Were Innocent,” which aired just days before the children were hanged.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Lisa Snyder, but if convicted of first-degree murder she faces a minimum of life in prison.
Pennsylvania has not carried out an execution since 1999. Death Penalty Information Center.
The wooden kitchen chair used in the hanging was also brought before the judge, who will decide her fate as there is no jury in the case.
Meanwhile, Lisa Snyder remained emotionless, only shedding tears when Owen Snyder spoke out against her.
Her defense testified that she did not hang her children, but argued that even if she had, she was mentally ill and should have been sent to a psychiatric hospital rather than prison.
Authorities say Lisa Snyder purchased the dog leashes on the same day the children were found hanged to death in the basement of their home.
She initially called 911 to report that her son had committed suicide, but police quickly became suspicious and found no evidence to support her claim.
