Trial slated next week for Manor Township woman in hatchet killing of husband

A 43-year-old Manor Township woman is scheduled to stand trial in Armstrong County Court on Monday, Jan. 7 for the 2017 hatchet attack and, ultimately, death of her husband.

Melanie Sue Snyder is accused of the early morning hatchet attack on her husband, Thomas Snyder, in their small Garretts Run Road house. The husband and wife were each 41 at the time of the domestic attack.

Prosecutors say the attack was done in front of the couple’s three children and it was their then 17-year-old daughter who summoned police and an ambulance.

Snyder is also accused of striking her 13-year-old son in the head with the hatchet in the violent attack, which was reported at about 10:30 a.m. on July 27, 2017. A 6-year-old son was also in the house.

Police allege Thomas Snyder was struck by the hatchet at least five times to his head and neck.

Snyder died about 5 months later from pneumonia as a result of the trauma to his brain “due to the hatchet attack,” according to court papers.

On Jan. 23, 2018, county Coroner Brian K. Myers ruled Snyder’s death homicide and that charge was added against his wife the same day.

She had already been held on 19 counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and child endangerment.

She has been held in the county jail since the day of the attack in lieu of $500,000 bond.

The trial is scheduled to be heard by President Judge James J. Panchik

Last month, President Judge James J. Panchik ruled all trial-related motions will be handled next week.

Both Melanie Sue Snyder’s attorney, Gregory W. Swank, and District Attorney Katie Charlton said they are prepared to go to trial.

Although Snyder isn’t facing the death penalty, if convicted of homicide she would be sentenced to life in prison.

Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chuck at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka.