Remains of daughters found buried in Pennsylvania backyard; mother and partner arrested
11/09/2021 2:15 pm PST
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (TCD) -- The remains of two young girls found in a Hepburn Township backyard were identified on Monday.
Old Lycoming Township Police Chief Chris Kriner said in a news release that 6-year-old Nicole Elizabeth Snyder and 4-year-old Jasmine Jean Snyder died or were killed and buried at 653 Livermore Road in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The girls' remains were reportedly brought to Erie, Pennsylvania, to be reviewed and analyzed by a forensic anthropologist.
Kriner announced in another release that 32-year-old Marie Snyder, the mother of the girls, and her 26-year-old partner, Echo Butler, were arrested Nov. 4, on charges of child endangerment and obstruction.
Snyder and Butler were reportedly taken into custody on an Old Lycoming Township Police arrest warrant by a United States Marshals Service and Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force.
According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, their father reportedly had not seen his daughters since 2015, which happens to be the same year they last had contact with medical, court or other personnel. In September, officials were allegedly told that the daughters were living with a friend in another state, but they never received a name or further details.
The Old Lycoming Township Police Department said the United States Marshals Service-Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force arrested Snyder and Butler Nov. 4 after obtaining warrants on them. Officials also received a search warrant to look for the remains at Snyder's house.
The case has been classified as a homicide investigation, and in the news release, Kriner added, "An investigation into the manner of death, motive and the timeline of events continues to be explored by law enforcement."
Snyder’s son was taken into custody by the Children and Youth Services department. According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, the agency began an investigation in early September after reports of potential neglect.
Snyder and Butler were held without bail pending a Nov. 17 preliminary hearing.
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