Insets, from left: David Snyder and Kimberly Gsell of Middlesex Township police. In the background is the Rodeway Inn in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where Snyder allegedly killed Gsell (Google Maps).
A Pennsylvania man allegedly strangled his wife’s fiancée, buried her beside a creek and kept the location secret for seven years. Authorities say he ultimately led investigators to the gravesite, where Gsell’s remains were found.
David Allen Snyder, 39, faces charges of first-degree murder and strangulation in the death of 38-year-old Kimberly Gsell.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Gsell was engaged to Snyder’s wife, Amanda Snyder. David and Amanda Snyder were still married when the alleged killing occurred. Gsell and Amanda checked into the Rodeway Inn in Carlisle on Sept. 27, 2019. The affidavit states that Amanda injured her nose during a fight with Gsell.
David Snyder drove to the motel, picked up his wife and took her to a hospital. He initially told investigators that he remained with Amanda for the entire time she was there.
Amanda Snyder later said that Gsell was gone when she returned to the motel. According to police, she gave family members and friends “numerous explanations for Gsell’s whereabouts.”
David Snyder allegedly told investigators that he never saw Gsell again. However, police said they found several “inconsistencies” in his account. During an interview last week, investigators confronted him about the alleged lies, and he reportedly confessed.
Snyder allegedly told police that he persuaded Gsell to accompany him to the hospital on the night she died. Once she was inside his vehicle, he allegedly strangled her, using the passenger seat for leverage. He said he believed Gsell was intoxicated and “did not fight back,” according to the affidavit. He then reportedly covered her body with a blanket.
Snyder allegedly drove Gsell to a secluded location in Cumberland County and buried her along the bank of Yellow Breaches Creek, police wrote. He and Amanda Snyder, who has not been charged, later reported Gsell missing to her family and authorities.
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On Saturday, Snyder led police to the area where he allegedly buried Gsell.
Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack told reporters at a press conference that investigators first discovered the blanket believed to have covered Gsell and a single bone. Additional personnel were brought in, and authorities ultimately recovered her body.
The affidavit did not identify a possible motive.
“They were well aware of each other through mutual friends and direct friendships, so they did have a history together,” Middlesex Township Police Chief Andrew Bassler said.
Snyder was arrested and remains held without bond at the Cumberland County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 7.
McCormack said he hopes finding Gsell’s body will bring some measure of closure to her family.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to provide a happy ending for Kim’s family, but hopefully now, we’ll be able to provide answers,” McCormack said. “In cases like this, the question is always why [this happened]. Hopefully, those answers will be developed as the case makes its way through the court system.”
The post Man allegedly used car seat to strangle wife’s fiancée outside motel before burying her beside creek first appeared on Law & Crime.