For the week of April 23 - 29, 2003

Eli and Stephen Snyder to be extradited to Blaine County

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By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

The father and half brother of Lily Snyder, 5--who were captured in the daring rescue of the former Ketchum girl in the jungles of Costa Rica two weeks ago--are being returned to Blaine County to face charges in the alleged abduction of the child.

Stephen Snyder, 52, and Eli Snyder, 29, are expected to be in Hailey by next week to face felony kidnapping charges.

Both are now in jail in Dade County, Fla., after being transferred from Costa Rica to Miami.

Eli Snyder became a fugitive on both Blaine County and FBI warrants after Lily disappeared while visiting with him in Eugene, Ore., in June 2001. Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Thomas said Stephen Snyder would be charged with aiding and abetting a second-degree kidnapping, also a felony.

At the time of her disappearance, Lily was in the legal custody of her mother and then-Ketchum resident Margot Thornton. Thornton had agreed to let Lily travel to Eugene in the care of Lily’s other half brother, Forrest Snyder, 26. Warrants for the two brothers were issued when Lily was not returned on the agreed-upon date.

Thomas said Blaine County paid the $2,500 bill for plane tickets from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Miami for the Snyders and the two Costa Rican police officers who accompanied them. He said FBI agents picked the Snyders up at the Miami airport April 16.

Thomas said Eli Snyder waived opposition to extradition to Blaine County on Thursday and Stephen Snyder did the same on Monday. He said he has contacted the U.S. Marshal’s Office to have the two transferred to Blaine County.

Second-degree kidnapping carries a penalty of between one and 25 years in prison.

Forrest Snyder, 26, pleaded guilty in April 2002 to a felony charge of aiding and abetting child custody interference. He was placed on probation with the condition that he cooperates in the search for Lily. Thomas said Forrest Snyder is expected to testify in court proceedings against his brother and father. If he does not cooperate, Thomas said, he would face a prison term of up to five years.

 

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