Leroy Snyder

Serial killer

7known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Donald Henry Gaskins Serial killer · USA · 1969 Donald Henry Gaskins, also known as Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins, was a serial kill… 200 victims

Carl Eugene Watts Serial killer · USA · 1974 Carl Eugene Watts (born November 7, 1953; died September 21, 2007), also known… 100 victims

Rodney Alcala Serial killer · USA · 1977 Rodney James Alcala (born August 23, 1943) was also known as Rodrigo Jacques Al… 100 victims

Donald Harvey Serial killer · USA · 1970 Donald Harvey was known as an American serial killer and a self-professed “Ange… 87 victims

Ottis Toole Serial killer · USA · 1961 Ottis Elwood Toole (sometimes misspelled as “Otis”) was an American serial kill… 65 victims

Donald Leroy Evans Serial killer · USA · 1975 Donald Leroy Evans (born July 5, 1957) was an American serial killer who murder… 60 victims

Random profiles

Niels Nielsen Murderer · USA · 1995 Niels Christian Nielsen was convicted of killing his ex-wife, Sue Marshel, and… 2 victims

Aileen Wuornos Serial killer · USA · 1989 Aileen Carol Wuornos was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Flor… 7 victims

Vern Kills On Top Murderer · USA · 1987 Vern Kills On Top was born in 1961. He was single and had no children. He was a… 1 victim

Jose Luis Villegas Murderer · USA · 2001 January 22, 2001 — Lionicio Perez returned home and found his wife Alma Perez’s… 3 victims

William Bryan Cruse Spree killer · USA · 1987 William Bryan Cruse William Bryan Cruse was a retired librarian and lived in Pa… 6 victims

John Katehis Homicide · USA · 2009 John Katehis was a 16-year-old and was tried for the fatal stabbing of radio jo… 1 victim

Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Camden, New Jersey, USA
Date of birth: 1931
Age at first offence: 38
Characteristics: murder for hire, rape
Victim profile: Six women and one man (friends or acquaintances)
Method of murder: Beating / St abbing with knife
Date(s) of murder: February -September 1969
Years active: 1969
Date of arrest: September 11, 1969
Status: Died in custody
Sentenced to three consecutive life terms on July 16, 1970; died in prison in October 2001

Case Summary

Case record

Background

Leroy Snyder was a 38-year-old junkyard laborer. He was charged with the murder of Gertrude Friedman, 58, in Camden, New Jersey. The case involved seven slayings committed between February and September 1969.

Investigators said most of the victims, including five women and one man, were friends or acquaintances of Snyder. The victims were beaten or stabbed to death, and two of the female victims were raped.

The offence

On September 11, 1969, Leroy Snyder attacked Gertrude Friedman in her combination apartment and linoleum shop in Camden, New Jersey. The victim had been beaten and raped before her throat was slashed.

He was later indicted for six additional slayings in Camden, New Jersey, all committed between February and September 1969. Investigators said most of these victims were friends or acquaintances of Snyder.

Snyder later confessed to all seven murders on July 10, 1969. He claimed robbery as the motive in six of the crimes. He said he "couldn't recall" his motivation for the seventh.

Investigation

Investigators said most of the victims were friends or acquaintances of Snyder. They said the victims were beaten or stabbed to death, and two of the female victims were raped.

Arrest

On September 11, 1969, Leroy Snyder was arrested in connection with the murder of Gertrude Friedman, 58, in Camden, New Jersey. He was held without bail on a murder charge.

Trial

Under New Jersey law, Snyder's plea of no defense on seven counts of homicide prevented the state from imposing a death penalty for his crimes.

Snyder confessed to all seven murders on July 10, 1969. He claimed robbery as the motive in six of the crimes, and he "couldn't recall" his motivation for the seventh.

Sentencing

On July 16, 1970, Leroy Snyder was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. The terms required that he serve 43 years and six months before he would be eligible for parole.

The presiding judge publicly described Snyder, referring to a court-ordered psychiatric report, as a "malignant psychopath" and a "threat to society," and expressed the hope that he would never be released from jail.

“malignant psychopath”
“threat to society”

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

He died in prison in October 2001.

Other details

Snyder's case involved seven homicide counts and a disposition of three consecutive life terms.

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?