Woman sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of two young children found hanging in the basement of her home five years ago

READING, Pa. (AP) – A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to two life sentences without parole on murder convictions in the deaths of her two young children, who were found hanging in the basement of their home five years ago.

Lisa Snyder, 41, was convicted last month of two counts of first-degree murder in the September 2019 deaths of 4-year-old Brinley and 8-year-old Conner, who were taken off life support and died three days later. found in the home in Albany Township, about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Snyder did not respond during Thursday’s hearing in Berks County, declining to address only the court, the Reading Eagle. reported. Presiding Judge Theresa Johnson, who also imposed an additional 8 1/2 to 17 years for child endangerment and tampering with evidence, called the crime the most violent murder she had seen in her time on the court and said also that the defendant had never shown any evidence of this. remorse.

Owen Snyder, 22, the older brother of the slain youths who was 17 at the time of their deaths, called the defendant a “monster” who he no longer considered his mother. He said they will never get the chance to be aunt and uncle to his newborn son and he will never be able to see the people they would have become.

“If I could turn back time, I would, just to hear their voices,” he said.

Snyder had told police that her son was being bullied and had threatened to take his life, but authorities said they had found no evidence to support her claim. The boy showed no signs of trouble on school bus surveillance video that day. An occupational therapist later said the child was physically incapable of causing such harm to himself or his sister.

Police also cited the suspect’s online searches for information on suicide, death by hanging and how to kill someone, as well as episodes of a documentary crime series called “I Almost Got Away With It.” A coroner said both children died by hanging and ruled them murders.

The defense had unsuccessfully sought an acquittal, saying the case was based on speculation and “guesswork.” Snyder had tried to plead no contest but mentally ill to third-degree murder, but the judge rejected the plea deal.