Leroy Snyder

Overview

Leroy Snyder (February 13, 1931 – October 1, 2001) was an American serial killer whose chilling reign of terror left the city of Camden, New Jersey, reeling during the tumultuous year of 1969. Over the course of just eight months, Snyder brutally murdered six women and one man, all while being a habitual offender on parole. In a desperate bid to avoid the death penalty, he ultimately pleaded guilty to all charges and received six life sentences.

Quick Facts

• Born: February 13, 1931, Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
• Died: October 1, 2001 (aged 70), New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
• Other Names: "Duke"
• Convictions: First degree murder (3 counts)
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment
• Victims: 7
• Span of Crimes: February 14 – September 8, 1969
• Country: United States
• State: New Jersey
• Date Apprehended: September 11, 1969

Early Life

Snyder's troubled beginnings set the stage for a life marked by crime. Born into a dysfunctional family as the fifth of seven children, he grew up in Camden, a city riddled with social issues. The family moved frequently, leaving Snyder and his siblings to navigate a chaotic environment. By the mid-1940s, Snyder returned to Camden, where his early brushes with the law began to unfold.

Criminal History

Snyder's criminal record began at an alarmingly young age. In December 1949, just shy of his 18th birthday, he attempted to strangle a local woman with a clothesline. Authorities quickly apprehended him, but he received only a brief stint in jail before being released back into the community. His penchant for violence resurfaced when he made vulgar threats of rape against two young women, leading to another four-year imprisonment.

By July 1955, Snyder was arrested again, this time for robbing and assaulting a cab driver in Philadelphia, which earned him a five-year sentence. In 1959, he faced additional charges for armed robbery, resulting in a ten-year prison term. Snyder would remain incarcerated at New Jersey State Prison until his parole in December 1968.

The Murders

The year 1969 marked a gruesome chapter in Camden's history, as Snyder unleashed a series of horrific murders that would haunt the community for decades. The killings, characterized by their shocking brutality, made headlines across the state. Here’s a closer look at the victims:

• Lula Crawley (45) - On February 14, 1969, Crawley was found in her South Camden furniture store, brutally stabbed 13 times in the chest, neck, and back. Her hands were bound with heavy twine, and she lay face down in a pool of blood. Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious figure in the vicinity, leading to a police sketch being circulated in local newspapers.

• Mary Freeman (56) - Found on April 12, 1969, floating face down in a vacant house, Freeman had reportedly engaged in prostitution. An autopsy revealed she had been raped and stabbed to death.

• Shirley Brittingham (32) and Warren Wells (27) - On April 25, 1969, this couple met a gruesome fate in the basement of an abandoned home. Brittingham, six months pregnant, was beaten, shot multiple times, and stabbed, while Wells had his throat slashed and was shot in the back six times.

• Lovie Williams (52) - Killed on May 19, 1969, Williams was discovered in her home with her face severely beaten and her stomach slit open.

• Vera Stevens (45) - Found on August 9, 1969, Stevens was brutally beaten to death, with autopsy findings indicating she had been raped.

• Gertrude Friedman (58) - The final victim, Friedman, was attacked on September 8, 1969, while working alone at her linoleum store. She was repeatedly raped before her throat was slit with a knife. Her body was discovered later that day when a customer entered the store to find no one attending the counter. Stolen items included Friedman's wristwatch and some of her clothing.

Arrest and Investigation

Just three days after the murder of Gertrude Friedman, police raided Snyder’s home on Cherry Street and arrested him for the series of murders. Investigators recovered Friedman's stolen watch and several pieces of her clothing from his residence. Following Snyder's capture, the brutal killings in Camden suddenly ceased.

Before Snyder was apprehended, two other men had been arrested as suspects but were later cleared:

• Richard Morton (32) was arrested in May 1969 for the murder of Lovie Williams after being seen wielding a hunting knife in her neighborhood. He was quickly released and cleared of suspicion.

• William McDaniels (29), a U.S. Army soldier who was AWOL, was taken into custody on June 13, 1969, for the murders of Brittingham and Wells. He was also cleared within days.

Detectives Earl Smith and Nate Jones interrogated Snyder about the murders. He confessed to each one, providing graphic details that had not yet been made public. Although authorities looked into Snyder’s potential involvement in three additional murders in the Camden area, he was eventually ruled out as a suspect in those cases.

Imprisonment and Death

Under New Jersey law, Snyder's confession precluded him from receiving the death penalty. On July 17, 1970, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Snyder would have been eligible for parole in 2014 at the age of 84, having served a minimum of 43½ years. However, he died at the age of 70 on October 1, 2001, at New Jersey State Prison, after serving just 31 years of his sentence.

Conclusion

The case of Leroy Snyder remains a haunting reminder of the depths of human depravity. His crimes not only shattered the lives of countless victims and their families but also left an indelible mark on the community of Camden—a place that grappled with the very real horrors of violence and loss.

Sources

• "Leroy Snyder - Camden People". dvrbs.com. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
• "Jersey Killer Sentenced". The New York Times. July 17, 1970. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
• "Man Held as Slayer Is Accused in Jersey I Of 6 More Murders". The New York Times. July 3, 1970. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
• Camden Holdup Suspect Just Out Of Prison. Press of Atlantic City. July 27, 1955.
• Fast Grand Jury Action To Be Sought in 6 Killings. Courier-Post. July 3, 1970.
• Jersey Man Charged in 7 Murders. The Jersey Journal. United Press International. July 3, 1970.
• "Woman Slain by Sadist In Her S. Camden Store". Courier-Post. February 15, 1969.
• Police Hunt For 'Stranger' In City Slaying. Courier-Post. February 17, 1969.
• "Man Files Plea Of No Defense To 7 Slayings". Courier-Post. July 10, 1970.
• "Murder Pleader Gets 3 Life Prison Terms". Simpson's Leader-Times. July 17, 1970.
• AWOL GI Cleared In Murder Case. Courier-Post. June 20, 1969.
• See Robbery New Motive In Murder. Standard-Speaker. Associated Press. September 9, 1969.
• Bitman, Terry (September 12, 1969). Man Held in Slaying Of City Shopowner. Courier-Post.
• Five Persons Held In Lieu of Bail. Courier-Post. May 21, 1969.
• GI Held in Double Camden Murder. The News. United Press International. June 14, 1969.
• Happ, Joe; McCarthy, Joseph R. (August 15, 1970). THE PURSUIT OF A MURDERER. Courier-Post.
• "Murder Defendant Admits He Killed 7". The New York Times. July 11, 1970. Retrieved December 9, 2021.