Pa. woman who hanged her 2 kids with dog leash in her basement gets life

READING, Pa. (TCN) — A judge sentenced a 41-year-old woman to two consecutive life sentences in prison for killing her two children by hanging them in her basement with a dog leash.

The Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced Lisa Snyder’s sentence on Oct. 17, less than a month after she was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence in connection with the deaths of 8-year-old Conner Snyder and 4-year-old Brinley Snyder. She will not have the possibility of parole for the murder conviction, and she must also spend eight to 17 years in prison for the other charges. Court records show Snyder had originally been additionally indicted on charges of third-degree murder, two counts of sexual intercourse with an animal, and cruelty to animals. Those charges were dismissed.

According to District Attorney John T. Adams, on Sept. 23, 2019, at 4:30 p.m., Snyder called 911 and said she found her two children hanging and unresponsive in the basement. First responders arrived 11 minutes later and discovered the children hanging from a cable dog leash that had been wrapped around a support beam and two dining room chairs that were pushed over. The victims were in full cardiac arrest, so the paramedics worked the resuscitate them. Both children died three days later when they were taken off life support.

Lisa Snyder reportedly ordered the leash, which was supposed to be used on dogs up to 250 pounds, on Sept. 22, 2019. She picked it up at a local Walmart on Sept. 23, 2019.

Adams said Snyder claimed her kids went downstairs to the basement to play “fort,” which they did “all the time.” Another resident in the house, however, told investigators the kids “hardly ever” played in the basement.

Snyder also said her son “was bullied and wanted to die,” but investigators spoke with multiple witnesses who said Conner Snyder never mentioned being bullied at school.

According to Adams, “He never expressed that he was bullied or suicidal. The only person that ever indicated that someone was bullied was the defendant.”

One witness reportedly informed investigators that Snyder told them she “is depressed and doesn’t care any more about her kids.”

Detectives interviewed an occupational therapist who worked with Conner Snyder. Adams said the 8-year-old boy had disabilities that prevented him from doing things such as tying his shoes. The therapist said it would have been “extremely difficult for Conner to operate the clasp on the dog leash or manage to wrap it around the beam due to his poor dexterity.”

Adams said, “I don’t know that there’s any explanation for her behavior. I don’t think anyone can explain the horrific loss of two innocent children’s lives.”

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