A MOM accused of hanging her two children and sexually assaulting the family dog allegedly planned to take her own life after her arrest.
Lisa Snyder expected to be arrested shortly after her children's deaths – but because she had no previous run-ins with the law, she believed she'd be released on bail, witness Jessica Senft testified in court Wednesday.
The 37-year-old allegedly confided to Senft that she planned to kill herself once she was released.
Synder was the only adult in the house where Conner, 8, and Brinley, 4, were found hanging from a dog leash beside two upturned chairs on September 23, prosecutors alleged.
An occupational therapist who worked with Conner told investigators that the boy had physical disabilities that would make it nearly impossible for him to work the clasp on the dog leash, The Morning Call reported.
While investigating the deaths of the children, detectives discovered sexually explicit photos of Snyder having sex with the family dog, prompting the animal cruelty charges she now faces.
She told cops she owned the dog – a black pit bull mix weighing 50 pounds – but said she'd given the dog away.
Brinley and Conner died after being taken off of life support on January 26, three days after they were found unresponsive in the basement of their Pennsylvania home.
On the night of the hangings, Synder allegedly told rescue workers that her son was bullied and had been threatening suicide – contrary to multiple videos viewed by police that showed Conner laughing alongside his supposed intimidators.
Court records show the accused murderer allegedly Googled "carbon monoxide in a car how long to die," "hanging yourself," and "I almost got away with it best episodes," in the weeks before Brinley and Conner's deaths.
Police said the mom staged the deaths of her children to make it look like a suicide.
The family apparently had a history with child protective services.
Conner and his teenage brother were taken from their mom's care by a judge in 2014, but were returned to her months later, although it's not clear why, according to the Call.
After four hours of testimony, a judge ruled Wednesday that Synder will stand trial on charges of hanging Conner and Brinley.
Snyder was charged with first- and third-degree murder, tampering with evidence, endangering the welfare of children, and sexual intercourse with a dog.
She has pleaded not guilty and remains in jail without bail.
If found guilty of the litany of charges, Snyder could face the death penalty.
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