A Pennsylvania woman, Lisa Snyder, was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole for the horrific murders of her two young children, Connor, 8, and Brinley, 4. The children were found hanging in the basement of their Albany Township home in September 2019. Despite efforts to save them, both children died after being taken off life support three days later.
Snyder, 41, was convicted last month on two counts of first-degree murder. During the sentencing hearing on Thursday in Berks County, she remained emotionless, as reported by the Reading Eagle. Her conviction followed a lengthy investigation into the chilling case, shocking the local community about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Judge Adds Years to Life Sentence for Pennsylvania Mother Convicted of Murdering Her Two Young Children
In addition to two life sentences, Judge Theresa Johnson imposed an additional 8 1/2 to 17 years on Lisa Snyder for child endangerment and evidence tampering. Snyder, 41, was convicted of the brutal murders of her children, Connor, 8, and Brinley, 4, who were found hanging in the basement of their home in 2019. Judge Johnson described the case as the most violent murder she had encountered during her tenure and noted Snyder had shown no remorse throughout the trial.
Owen Snyder, 22, the older brother of the victims, delivered a heartbreaking statement during the sentencing. Calling his mother a “monster,” he expressed how the tragedy robbed his siblings of the chance to grow up and be part of his own life, including never being able to meet his newborn son.
The court’s decision solidified Snyder’s fate, ensuring she would spend the rest of her life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
A Pennsylvania mother who allegedly had sex with a pit bull before hanging her two children with a dog leash appeared at her murder trial with a slimmed down new look.
— Eddie (@Health00810) September 21, 2024
Lisa Snyder, 41, looked much slimmer than she did in her September 2019 mugshot as she appeared before a court… pic.twitter.com/w1yJhSxH4Q
Owen Snyder’s Heartbreaking Statement Highlights Loss and Investigation Uncovers Disturbing Details in Sibling Murders
Owen Snyder delivered an emotional statement, saying, “If I could turn back time, I would, just to hear their voices.” He expressed deep grief over the loss of his younger siblings, Connor and Brinley, whose lives were cut short in a tragedy their mother, Lisa Snyder, was convicted of orchestrating.
During the investigation, Snyder told police that her son, Connor, had been bullied and had expressed a desire to take his own life. However, authorities found no evidence to support this claim. A review of the school bus security video on the day of the incident showed no signs of distress from the 8-year-old, and an occupational therapist later testified that Connor was physically incapable of causing the type of harm involved in the deaths of himself and his sister.
Investigators also uncovered Snyder’s troubling internet search history, which included searches about suicide, methods of hanging, and how to kill someone. She had also searched for episodes of the crime documentary series “I Almost Got Away With It,” raising further suspicion about her intent. The evidence painted a disturbing picture of premeditation, ultimately leading to Snyder’s conviction on multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
Lisa Snyder, a 41-year-old Pennsylvania mom, banged a pitbull and then hanged her two kids from their necks with the dog leash.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 21, 2024
The children were Conner, 8, and Brinley, 4. She denies taking her children's lives and claimed they hanged themselves.
However, evidence shows that… pic.twitter.com/v9MlrgOVpS
Coroner Rules Children’s Deaths as Homicides: Judge Rejects Plea Deal in Chilling Case
A coroner determined that the tragic deaths of both Connor and Brinley Snyder were homicides, ruling that the children were killed by hanging. Despite the defense’s efforts to push for acquittal, they argued that the prosecution’s case was built on “speculation and guesswork.”
The defendant had attempted to plead no contest with a mental illness claim to third-degree murder, but the judge dismissed the plea agreement, stating that it did not align with the severity of the charges. This decision further solidified the prosecution’s case, leading to Lisa Snyder’s ultimate conviction on multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
#LisaSnyder was convicted of hanging her children and received life.
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) October 19, 2024
She hung them with a dog leash and blamed her son, alleging a murder suicide. Her son was only 8, her daughter, 4.
May Brinley and Conner Rest in Peace.#Pennslyvania pic.twitter.com/Th1MwgeoO3
