SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (TCD) — A mother and father will spend time behind bars in connection with the 2016 death of their 8-year-old adopted son, who died of blunt force trauma to his head.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announced that a judge sentenced Katherine Snyder to 31 years to life in prison and John Snyder to 29 years to life. A jury found the couple guilty of murder, felonious assault, and child endangering on Nov. 17.
According to WXIX-TV, prosecutors argued that in October 2016, Katherine Snyder fatally slammed her son’s head into the floor as punishment because he had soiled his pants. Following the attack, the father, John Snyder, didn’t do anything to help his son, Adam Snyder. WXIX reports that the couple adopted the boy from China.
Officials reportedly located several other children in the home who showed signs of malnourishment and physical abuse. Powers said Katherine and John Snyder intentionally malnourished their adopted and biological children and punished them with cold baths or showers.
WCPO-TV reports Adam Snyder weighed 36 pounds when he died. That is reportedly half the weight of a healthy 8-year-old. Prosecutors said during the trial the other children also appeared underweight and malnourished.
On Oct. 4, 2016, one day before the boy died, Katherine and John Snyder took Adam to a hospital, where he was “described as skin and bones and gray in color.”
Prosecutor Stacy Lefton said, “This poor kid comes from China from an orphanage to this family and what do they do? They kill him.”
The couple has since lost custody of their children.
Before sentencing, Judge Wende Cross addressed Katherine and John Snyder, stating, “It was you that failed to meet these six children’s basic physical and emotional needs. As parents, you were their most important role models.”
In a statement obtained by WXIX, Powers said, “Very traumatic experience for them, and they’ve probably lost their childhood as well, but they have a lot of healing to do in the future.”
In addition to their prison sentence, the couple will have to pay a $15,000 fine and register as violent offenders. The judge ordered them to post-release control if they are ever released from prison.
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