Posted on 06/11/2005 6:47:44 PM PDT by Born Conservative
MILTON — Residents of a small section of Milton were stunned Friday after a 21-year-old woman was found slain in her apartment.
Carly Snyder of 130 Upper Market St. was found on her kitchen floor late Friday morning with a knife protruding from her chest.
Next-door neighbor Fredil Omar Rodriquez Fuentes, 23, of 128 Upper Market St., is accused of killing her early Friday morning.
"This is unbelievable," said Brandon Smith, 22, a friend of Ms. Snyder. "I was just with her yesterday. I really feel terrible because I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt her. I’m shocked."
By mid-afternoon, Milton police had Mr. Fuentes in custody.
Police said he confessed to the crime, and he was charged with an open count of criminal homicide, two felony counts of aggravated assault and a felony count of criminal trespass.
Mr. Fuentes was arraigned by District Judge William Kear and placed in the Northumberland County Prison.
Bail will be set at a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday before Northumberland County President Judge Robert Sacavage.
Coroner James F. Kelley pronounced Ms. Snyder dead at the scene at 1 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Allentown.
A motive for the murder is still unknown, said Milton police Sgt. Craig Lutcher.
Police were first called to the scene at 11:06 a.m. by LeeAnn Watts, manager of the Holiday Inn Express, where Ms. Snyder worked.
She said Ms. Snyder did not show up for work at the New Columbia hotel at 8:30 a.m. and calls to her home went unanswered.
Because Ms. Snyder was known to always call if running late, Ms. Watts asked that police check on the woman’s welfare.
Milton officer Curt Zettlemoyer was the first to arrive on the scene.
When there was no answer after he knocked on the front door, he looked through the window of the door and saw Ms. Snyder’s body.
He then walked around the house to enter through the back door and found Ms. Snyder lying on her kitchen floor with a knife protruding from her chest.
Officers from Watsontown, Lewisburg and the Milton state police station were called to the scene.
After cordoning off the scene with yellow police tape, police found blood in the area of Ms. Snyder’s back door and in the area of Mr. Fuentes’ back door.
Sgt. Dennis Derr, of the Watsontown Police Department, questioned Mr. Fuentes at his home after noticing numerous cuts on his hands and arms, as well as a stain on his pants that appeared to be blood.
Mr. Fuentes first told police that he cut himself at work. He later said he cut himself in his kitchen, police said.
Mr. Fuentes also told Mr. Derr that he and his wife went to work at 4 a.m. together.
His wife, Bobbi, later told police that her husband did not go to work on Friday.
After this, Mr. Fuentes agreed to go to the Milton police station for further questioning, during which he admitted killing Ms. Snyder with a black-handled knife, as well as two other knives, police said.
He told police that he left the black-handled knife in Ms. Snyder’s chest.
Mr. Lutcher would not say if the murder weapon came from inside the home.
When told by Mr. Kear during his arraignment, which was performed through a Spanish interpreter from the Milton Area High School, that he had the right to an attorney, Mr. Fuentes asked why he needed one.
Mr. Kear explained that he would need an attorney to represent him in court and to answer any legal questions he had.
After Mr. Kear informed him of the charges, Mr. Fuentes asked if he should at that time speak in his defense.
No, Mr. Kear said, and went on to inform him that he would never be legally required to do so, and suggested he speak with an attorney about that issue, and Mr. Fuentes was given a form to apply for a court-appointed defense attorney.
Mr. Fuentes then seemed concerned about how long he would be in the Northumberland County Prison.
Until Thursday, Mr. Kear said, at least.
"As these charges are such in nature," Mr. Kear said, "I am not allowed to set bail in this matter."
After his arraignment, Mr. Fuentes was taken to a hospital for treatment of his wounds.
State trooper Matt Burrows confirmed that Mr. Fuentes and Ms. Snyder knew each other, but added, "I’m not suggesting that he had a relationship with her."
She lived at the apartment with her boyfriend since November and alone for the past month or so, according to Jason Enterline, 20, twin brother of her boyfriend.
After she failed to show up for work at the Holiday Inn Express, a co-worker went to Ms. Snyder’s apartment but was unable to make contact.
"My girlfriend went there, knocked and heard nothing," said Gabriel Rearick, 19, a friend of Ms. Snyder. "The door was locked, and it was quiet."
Within minutes of Mr. Zettlemoyer’s arrival on the scene, neighbors said several more police cars showed up.
"I saw the police officer knock on the door and try to get in," said Chad Divler, 16, who was skateboarding along Academy Avenue. "It wasn’t long after that then all these guys showed up."
By noon, roughly 30 people gathered at the corner of Upper Market Street and Academy Avenue.
Many were quick to guess that something bad had happened to Ms. Snyder, including her 17-year-old brother, Clinton.
"That’s my sister’s place," Clinton said initially when he arrived to the scene. "I just hope nothing is wrong. I hope that’s not her they’re talking about in there."
Soon after, he and his father were placed in a state police car and taken away.
Authorities canvassed the area for people who knew Ms. Snyder and questioned them about possible suspects, Mr. Burrows said, and the investigation is continuing.
"There’s still a lot of investigating to do," Mr. Lutcher said. "We’ll be investigating pretty much into tomorrow."
Josh Enterline, 20, was questioned about his relationship with Ms. Snyder.
He dated Ms. Snyder for roughly over three years and lived with her at the apartment, his twin brother said.
The two peacefully parted ways a little over a month ago.
"They broke up over silly stuff," Jason Enterline said. "They hadn’t really spoken since."
"He is very upset," he added. "He hadn’t seen her in a while, and you just don’t think things like this will happen to people you know."
The first flowers arrived at the scene at about 5 p.m. from two young women, who asked lingering members of the media to give the small bouquet of fuchsia garden roses to police.
As the crowd grew by late afternoon, neighbors spoke of the lasting impact the stabbing would have on the small neighborhood.
"Stuff like this doesn’t happen here," said Anthony Swartz, 17, who lives on Academy Avenue. "We’ll have an occasional drug bust. A murder is something that won’t be forgot too easily —at least not when you now walk by that house."
"It's always in the last place you left it, honey!"
DON'T mention this to the Brits!
Just commiting murders Americans don't want to commit.
Another clueless illegal immigrant? Nahhhhh.
Why don't we just give him bail, bring the bus around to the front of the Courthouse, and give the illegal immigrant a ride home too!
All of that after we feed, and water him. Check him out at the nearest hospital, give him all of his shots, and medications he may need before he goes home, after all, we do want him to come back on his own for Court, right?
It was a Ginsu, so the homicide detectives could still cut wafer-thin tomato slices after they photographed the chalk outline.
"But it was an accident, he got between me and the beer can I was trying to cut!"
It does now.
SNORT! ROFLMAO, Diet Orange Soda is very tough to get off the keyboard once projected through the nostrils! Stop that!
"In their house?"
"No--IN the Johnsons!"
ZOOM IN on face of astonished house accompanied by BLAST of trumpet
"When told by Mr. Kear during his arraignment, which was performed through a Spanish interpreter from the Milton Area High School, that he had the right to an attorney, Mr. Fuentes asked why he needed one."
This says it all - in espanol.
Ya doesn't have to call him Fredil Omar Rodriquez Fuentes - them that knows the SOB calls him FORF fer short.
Quite a cast of characters; now, whose knife was it again?
Thought you might be interested in this one...
Next-door neighbor Fredil Omar Rodriquez Fuentes, 23, of 128 Upper Market St., is accused of killing her early Friday morning.
This loss of life and untold thousands of others should be laid at the feet of the federal officials at the highest levels of our government who facilitate the entry of illegals by not discharging their duties of protecting our borders.
This loss of life is due to negligence in enforcing existing laws and those responsible should be charged as accessories to the murder or with contributory negligence. Down with impunity and to hell with legislative immunity.
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