Mom and Partner Arrested After Two Daughters, Who Were Missing, Found Dead and Buried in Backyard!

A Pennsylvania mother and her partner are behind bars today after police made a gruesome discovery at their home just days ago.

Marie Snyder, 32, and Snyder’s partner, Echo Butler, 26, both of 653 Livermore Road in Hepburn Township, were arrested last week when Snyder failed to disclose the location of her missing daughters. Investigators found the bodies of two small children buried in their backyard just days after taking Snyder into custody.

Authorities identified the bodies of 6-year-old Nicole Snyder and 4-year-old Jasmine Snyder. Investigators say that the older girl was buried in 2016 and the younger one was buried in 2017. The father of the girls reported last having seen them in 2015, the same year as their last contact with medical, court or other personnel. Robert Mausteller of the township police department said officials were allegedly told in September that the girls were staying with a friend but they never got a name.

According to WFMJ, the girls' bodies were transported Monday to Erie for examination by a forensic anthropologist, officials said. Chief Chris Kriner of the Old Lycoming Township police department said an investigation continues “into the manner of death, motive and the timeline of events."

The Children and Youth Services department earlier took custody of a son for care. In early September, the agency began investigating after reports of concerns about “educational issues” involving the 7-year-old son, Kriner said. Officials then learned that Marie Snyder had two other children who were unaccounted for, and last month sought help from police, he said.

Both women have been charged with child endangerment and obstruction and were ordered held without bail pending a Nov. 17 preliminary hearing.

These charges could change and increase in severity pending the outcome of the autopsy reports.