OH OH - Roberta 'Bobby' Snider, 70, Hartville, 4 Jan 2018 *Guilty*

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Also from the same article I just posted:

“‘Mrs. Snider was a big Elvis fan and she wanted to see Graceland before she died, so her husband was trying to fulfill her wishes,’ Christopher said. ‘Her doctor said he didn't think she was in good enough shape to survive an 11-and-a-half hour trip each way.’” (BBM)
https://www.commercialappeal.com/st...s-body-river-after-trip-graceland/1054660001/

The caveat is we don’t know if that is what Philip told LE Bobby’s doctor had said, another family member, or perhaps even the doctor himself, if LE have interviewed Bobby’s doctor (which I hope they have - they have to have!) since her disappearance.

I really don’t know what to think as to what might have happened here, so just trying to find as much info as possible for now ....

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

I’m sorry for blowing up the thread ... last one for now!

“Hartville Police Chief Larry Dordea said Roberta was last seen alive at the couple’s home on January 1. He said police believe she is dead, but they do not know where she may have died.

‘We're talking about an event that's somewhere between here and more than 700 miles away, and some very nebulous information about what transpired on that trip,’ Dordea said.

‘When you're the only person who knows the truth, and when you're telling a story and you tell it five or six different ways, that's suspicious,’ Dordea said, describing Snider as calm, remorseful and deceptive.” (BBM)
http://fox8.com/2018/01/22/husband-...ssee-river-after-wife-died-of-natural-causes/

So it appears someone did see Bobby alive on New Year’s Day (also the day Bobby’s brother last spoke to her per this article: https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/wha...she-died-during-their-trip-to-elvis-graceland)

 

[dms]

‘He stated to Ohio police that he placed her body in two large black plastic bags because she had wanted to be cremated when she passed away and her ashes sprinkled to be returned to the earth as soon as possible,’ Christopher said. ‘He thought it would be better that he put her in the bags and return her to earth by putting her in the river.’

I would haunt my husband SO HARD.

 

[Steelslady]

I’m sorry for blowing up the thread ... last one for now!

“Hartville Police Chief Larry Dordea said Roberta was last seen alive at the couple’s home on January 1. He said police believe she is dead, but they do not know where she may have died.

‘We're talking about an event that's somewhere between here and more than 700 miles away, and some very nebulous information about what transpired on that trip,’ Dordea said.

‘When you're the only person who knows the truth, and when you're telling a story and you tell it five or six different ways, that's suspicious,’ Dordea said, describing Snider as calm, remorseful and deceptive.” (BBM)
http://fox8.com/2018/01/22/husband-...ssee-river-after-wife-died-of-natural-causes/

So it appears someone did see Bobby alive on New Year’s Day (also the day Bobby’s brother last spoke to her pet this article: https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/wha...she-died-during-their-trip-to-elvis-graceland)

Great information, thank you for posting all these links. So it appears LE is questioning his story. It makes me wonder if she took that trip with him after all, or if her body is close to home somewhere.

 

[Steelslady]

I would haunt my husband SO HARD.

Seriously! I just don't understand why he just didn't call the cops if she passed away on the road somewhere and let them handle things, He was lucid enough to drive to and from Graceland, buy garbage bags and toss her into the river, go to a car wash, check in/out of a hotel, get gas and food and use the facilities in strange places, but he can't remember what he did with her or claims he dumped her in a river. Before that, he said he called an ambulance and the EMT's took her away. He also said they stayed at some hotel in Kentucky on the way.

They need to tear their home and yard apart. There has to be some kind of evidence either at home or in the car to explain her disappearance. No doubt the poor woman has died, she deserves better than this.

This is some tall tale his spinning.

Is it proven that this man has dementia? Does he have a doctor backing this diagnosis?

 

[Elainera]

I’m sorry for blowing up the thread ... last one for now!

“Hartville Police Chief Larry Dordea said Roberta was last seen alive at the couple’s home on January 1. He said police believe she is dead, but they do not know where she may have died.

‘We're talking about an event that's somewhere between here and more than 700 miles away, and some very nebulous information about what transpired on that trip,’ Dordea said.

‘When you're the only person who knows the truth, and when you're telling a story and you tell it five or six different ways, that's suspicious,’ Dordea said, describing Snider as calm, remorseful and deceptive.” (BBM)
http://fox8.com/2018/01/22/husband-...ssee-river-after-wife-died-of-natural-causes/

So it appears someone did see Bobby alive on New Year’s Day (also the day Bobby’s brother last spoke to her pet this article: https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/wha...she-died-during-their-trip-to-elvis-graceland)

bbm - "deceptive". Aha. So they don't really believe his dementia claim it seems.

 

[Steelslady]

My grandfather got up in the middle of the night when I was staying with them. You had to get up with him because otherwise he might pee in the closet or take off his clothes and go outside. So I did. He attacked me - threw me against a wall and left marks on my arms. When I got away from him I called my mother and when she got there she asked him what he was doing. He told her that the demon had to be cast out from me. It was a scary night. I was 14 or 15.

Luckily, I did not go through such episodes with loved ones- some of their words could be vicious, but they didn't do that. However, my cousin's father, who was a sweet and dear man, would take his clothes off in the middle of the night and walk the neighborhood naked. My cousin's husband had to chase him one night when he climbed a neigbor's fence that lead towards a highway- that was rough, and he had strength enough to keep kicking and knocking her husband down off the fence and got over it somehow. Thankfully, she called the cops and they were on the other side and were able to get him.

I've also have heard stories from others that are similar to yours with the violence- so sorry you had to go through that. That is traumatic for a teen to go through.

 

[Steelslady]

bbm - "deceptive". Aha. So they don't really believe his dementia claim it seems.

I know- first thing that I thought of as well. I want to know if it is confirmed that he has dementia. Wouldn't LE have already talked to his doctor by now, to at least know how long he has it and the severity- beginning, progressing, severe. Something is just hinky with this. I can't imagine them doing a lie detector test on a person with dementia, unless it's just to see his emotions/reactions to questions, but that still wouldn't tell them much.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I know- first thing that I thought of as well. I want to know if it is confirmed that he has dementia. Wouldn't LE have already talked to his doctor by now, to at least know how long he has it and the severity- beginning, progressing, severe. Something is just hinky with this. I can't imagine them doing a lie detector test on a person with dementia, unless it's just to see his emotions/reactions to questions, but that still wouldn't tell them much.

Can someone explain to me the process LE has to go through to get confirmation of diagnosis from a doctor regarding a living patient? I know about HIPAA. But I don't know how they get around that for living patients. I'm wondering if they've been able to confirm yet.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Gardener1850]

Is there any evidence she got into a car with him and was alive for the first part of the trip? Have they searched the couple's home thoroughly? When was the last time Roberta spoke to someone or was seen by someone other than her husband? He is either an unreliable witness (due to dementia) or a liar at this point. Perhaps we should discount everything he has said and list what we know from LE and other sources.

Thanks Gardener, you're always firmly rooted in reality and facts. I appreciate and agree with your post.

Thank you, but I do have moments of going off the deep end with crazy theories sometimes too :blushing:
I do try to look at facts first. I'll attempt to answer my own questions now with a list of what we know:

Things LE has stated as facts/has evidence of:

LE searched the Snider home Abigail Street SW and found receipts from the trip
Receipts showed PS left Ohio and went to Tennessee
PS left Ohio on Jan 4th
PS checked into a Memphis hotel Jan 5th around 12:30 and checked out at 3:30 a.m. the next day.
Video shows PS checking in to the hotel in Memphis alone
Video shows PS checking into the hotel in Benton County the next day
Roberta does not appear on video checking into the Memphis hotel
The credit card used was in Bobby’s name only and police cannot access those records without a judge’s order

Benton County Sheriff confirmed PS stayed at the Days Inn in Memphis
Sheriff also confirmed PS stayed at the Days Inn in Benton County at exit 126

LE searched through PS's phone
LE checked PS's credit card records
LE is looking at GPS data
LE are looking for witnesses who saw the Hartville couple during the journey

No records for Roberta could be located at the Memphis coroner's office, EMS companies, or hospitals
No records of any jane doe matching her description were found
Memphis first responders never logged any calls matching her death.
PS never called 911.

Benton County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee has been searching the river
The sheriff and two men walked the Marsh area on Jan 9th
Tennessee Highway Patrol searched the area by helicopter Jan. 10
investigators returned to the river and searched the area again Jan. 13
Benton County rescue squad drug underneath the bridge and drove over the area searching with boats for about five to six miles

PS took an FBI polygraph test. The results have not yet been released.

Police have stated PS's memory might be suspect. They have also said he is deceptive.

Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher states that Roberta's Doctor did not think she was in good enough health to survive an 11.5 hour car trip each way

Police have entered Bobby’s name and photo into a national database of missing persons, noting that she is believed to be deceased

Other "facts" the press has reported:

Roberta's brother last spoke to his sister on New Year’s Day
Roberta's brother reported her missing
Roberta's brother first told police about the strange story his BIL was telling about how Roberta died
Roberta's brother said he contact police after his BIL returned home without Roberta
Roberta's brother said PS claimed he left her ashes at Graceland
Roberta's brother says Roberta always wanted to be cremated and didn't want her ashes on a mantel
Philip and Bobby told at least one of their children they were headed to Graceland

Roberta's brother believes Snider may be suffering from dementia
Roberta's brother doesn't think it was foul play or malicisous

A recording at a phone number for Snider said the number was no longer in service.
A clerk at Days Inn told the news Philip Snider was asking about car washes near the hotel
A statement from Days Inn shows Snider paid a total of $97.29 for the room for one night.
Days Inn employees said he used his wife's credit card.
Hotel staff that checked PS in to the Days Inn did not see Roberta

The statement shows he checked out at 3:30 a.m. the next day.
WMC Action News 5 checked with the motel in Kentucky and "they said they did not know what we were talking about".

The Sniders have been married for 53 years
The former mayor of Hartville, Ohio has been their neighbor for 9 yearsThe Sniders moved to a condo in Hartville after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008
The Sniders lost their house in Plain Township to foreclosure.
The Sniders claimed to be nearly $145,000 in debtin the court records

Things Phillip Snider has said but are unverified/conflicting:

She was in poor health (but alive) when they left home
This was to be their last trip
She died of natural causes
She died on the trip to Graceland
It was her dying wish to see Graceland one last time
They drove about 285 miles and stopped at a Ramada Inn in Sparta, Ky on Jan 4th
He misplaced his wallet so he had to use Roberta's credit card

She died in Kentucky
She died in the hotel parking lot in Memphis
He flagged down an ambulance in the parking lot
She got taken away by an ambulance outside a hotel
Paramedics confirmed to him that she was dead before they took her away
He didn't know where they took her
He just went home after his wife was taken away dead

He left her in the back of the truck after she died
He went to Graceland without her
He spent the night in the hotel in Memphis while Roberta's body was still in the truck
He checked into the hotel in Benton County with her body still in the truck
He wrapped her body in plastic
He placed her body in two large black plastic bags because she had wanted to be cremated when she passed away
He thought it would be better that he put her in the bags and return her to earth by putting her in the river
He threw her body over a bridge into the Tennessee river
He did that to "put her with nature"
He claims he threw her over the bridge Jan 6th after checking out of the Benton County hotel
He said heard her body hit the water

Some Media Sources:
https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/wha...she-died-during-their-trip-to-elvis-graceland
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20180112/hartville-police-probing-womans-road-trip-death
http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/37299844/wife-missing-after-ohio-couples-trip-to-graceland
http://www.localmemphis.com/news/lo...ie-in-memphis-as-her-husband-claims/926344769
http://wreg.com/2018/01/15/police-probe-mans-claim-that-wife-died-on-graceland-trip/
http://www.wbbjtv.com/2018/01/22/ohio-snider/
http://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/stark-county/hartville-man-admits-to-dumping-wifes-body-in-tennessee-river-after-claiming-she-disappeared/95-510573955
http://www.kare11.com/article/news/...land/465-4fbc8ccd-0622-4e32-b21a-3b8001e811d1
http://fox61.com/2018/01/22/husband...into-river-after-wife-died-of-natural-causes/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...s-body-river-after-trip-graceland/1056510001/
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/22/police-man-who-says-wife-died-on-road-trip-changes-story.html
http://www.dispatch.com/news/201801...dy-in-tennessee-river-after-trip-to-graceland

 

[Steelslady]

Thank you, Gardener1850 for that outstanding post above with all of the facts and links!

So it was the brother-in-law that mentioned Snider might have dementia- it isn't a confirmed diagnosis at this point. That's a huge difference in this case because so far, it is not proven he has dementia. What puzzles me is that his own children haven't come forward to back up the uncle's claim. If you thought or knew this to be true, wouldn't you at least back up the uncle that made this claim? I find their silence all telling.

Now, when it comes to the doctor saying she was in too poor of health to go on that trip- is this statement from Snider, or her actual doctor?

It's time for this man to voluntarily go to the hospital for testing, or be locked up until they find her and determine what happened to her.

 

[Gardener1850]

Is there any evidence she got into a car with him and was alive for the first part of the trip? Have they searched the couple's home thoroughly? When was the last time Roberta spoke to someone or was seen by someone other than her husband? He is either an unreliable witness (due to dementia) or a liar at this point. Perhaps we should discount everything he has said and list what we know from LE and other sources.

Thank you, Gardener1850 for that outstanding post above with all of the facts and links!

So it was the brother-in-law that mentioned Snider might have dementia- it isn't a confirmed diagnosis at this point. That's a huge difference in this case because so far, it is not proven he has dementia. What puzzles me is that his own children haven't come forward to back up the uncle's claim. If you thought or knew this to be true, wouldn't you at least back up the uncle that made this claim? I find their silence all telling.

Now, when it comes to the doctor saying she was in too poor of health to go on that trip- is this statement from Snider, or her actual doctor?

It's time for this man to voluntarily go to the hospital for testing, or be locked up until they find her and determine what happened to her.

The statement on the Doctor came from the Benton County Sheriff (the one who was asked by Ohio LE to search the Tennessee River). We probably should keep in mind, however, that he was not the first investigator on the case and he may have gotten this info second or third hand from the other investigators or it may have originally come from Phillip Snider. I think it is unlikely that the Benton County Sheriff spoke to Roberta's doctor and got that info. JMO.

Here is the quote on the Doctor part in context:

Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher said the bizarre story involving Philip and Roberta "Bobbie" Snider of Hartville, Ohio, first hit his radar Jan. 9 when he was contacted by Ohio authorities.

"Mrs. Snider was a big Elvis fan and she wanted to see Graceland before she died, so her husband was trying to fulfill her wishes," Christopher said. "Her doctor said he didn't think she was in good enough shape to survive an 11-and-a-half hour trip each way."

http://www.kare11.com/article/news/...land/465-4fbc8ccd-0622-4e32-b21a-3b8001e811d1

 

[Steelslady]

The statement on the Doctor came from the Benton County Sheriff (the one who was asked by Ohio LE to search the Tennessee River). We probably should keep in mind, however, that he was not the first investigator on the case and he may have gotten this info second or third hand from the other investigators or it may have originally come from Phillip Snider. I think it is unlikely that the Benton County Sheriff spoke to Roberta's doctor and got that info.

I agree. That's why I am so suspicious of his story. So far, we only have the BIL's word that he might have dementia. So to me, this is not a confirmed diagnosis with LE- just the word of his BIL.

We don't even know for a fact that she was so sick that she was close to dying. I have a hard time believing that if she was that sick, that her own children wouldn't have confirmed this to LE by now. What I didn't see is if her brother confirmed that she was that sick (I admit, I may have missed this part and I do apologize if I am wrong)- did he mention this as well?

So if she was as sick as was mentioned at least by her husband- was there nobody else helping the two of them? Running errands, making and delivering meal, driving to doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, no visiting nurse to make sure she was eating well and taking her medications, etc- was no one helping this man take care of his wife, especially if the BIL suspected he might have dementia. Why would family and friends leave the entire care to just him alone, if he, too had medical issues that would to me, deem him not the best caretaker for Bobby?

 

[Gardener1850]

I have to say that after listing all the facts of this case and noticing the part about the past bankruptcy and foreclosure of their house I'm wondering if PS did this only for financial reasons. She could have died of natural causes at home anytime between Jan 1 and Jan 4th. He had 3 days to hide her elsewhere. Perhaps the trip was all a ruse so that he didn't have to pay for her to be cremated and have a memorial service. Or maybe he really loaded her dead body into the truck and drove to Graceland with her so he could say honestly he took her there one last time. Maybe PS figured he would go to Graceland and back then tell family she died on the trip and he left her ashes in Graceland per her wishes. He might have gotten away with this if Roberta's brother had not called police. At this time, I'm leaning towards PS only being guilty of unlawfully disposing of his wife's body. But I still hope LE can find her ASAP to make sure it was a natural death. And to give her a proper burial. This is wrong no matter what the reasons may be for it. The rest of her family deserves to have some closure.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Thank you, Gardener1850 for that outstanding post above with all of the facts and links!

So it was the brother-in-law that mentioned Snider might have dementia- it isn't a confirmed diagnosis at this point. That's a huge difference in this case because so far, it is not proven he has dementia. What puzzles me is that his own children haven't come forward to back up the uncle's claim. If you thought or knew this to be true, wouldn't you at least back up the uncle that made this claim? I find their silence all telling.

Now, when it comes to the doctor saying she was in too poor of health to go on that trip- is this statement from Snider, or her actual doctor?

It's time for this man to voluntarily go to the hospital for testing, or be locked up until they find her and determine what happened to her.

We routinely leave young, fit monsters walk around free for weeks and months while LE gathers evidence, so I am not in such a hurry to say lock him up. Can you imagine having done that if he is innocent and has dementia? It would be horrible.

The facts are that right now they only have evidence of improper disposal of a corpse, or something along those lines. They have her own brother saying he has dementia. He's staying with family, which indicates some support. None of the family has come forward to voice an opinion that there was foul play, including her own siblings.

I'm not saying he's innocent for certain, but I see no reason they should lock a possible dementia patient in prison at this point based on this evidence. There's time. I don't see him as a danger to the public.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Gardener1850]

I agree. That's why I am so suspicious of his story. So far, we only have the BIL's word that he might have dementia. So to me, this is not a confirmed diagnosis with LE- just the word of his BIL.

We don't even know for a fact that she was so sick that she was close to dying. I have a hard time believing that if she was that sick, that her own children wouldn't have confirmed this to LE by now. What I didn't see is if her brother confirmed that she was that sick (I admit, I may have missed this part and I do apologize if I am wrong)- did he mention this as well?

So if she was as sick as was mentioned at least by her husband- was there nobody else helping the two of them? Running errands, making and delivering meal, driving to doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, no visiting nurse to make sure she was eating well and taking her medications, etc- was no one helping this man take care of his wife, especially if the BIL suspected he might have dementia. Why would family and friends leave the entire care to just him alone, if he, too had medical issues that would to me, deem him not the best caretaker for Bobby?

I didn't see anything from other sources about her health. It seems to be only the BIL saying PS might have dementia and the police said his memory might be suspect.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

And with respect, you can live 10 minutes from a parent, even have turned your life upside down in order to be that close to help them, and still be unaware they are receiving cancer treatment, are in the ER, and a whole host of other things. Their own siblings may not even know how serious something is or what's going on simply because the person wants it that way.

The only ones who know for certain about her health status could be her physicians.

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[JanetElaine]

Thank you, but I do have moments of going off the deep end with crazy theories sometimes too :blushing:
I do try to look at facts first. I'll attempt to answer my own questions now with a list of what we know:

Things LE has stated as facts/has evidence of:

[very respectfully snipped by me]

.......

What an amazing summary, thank you so much for doing all of this work Gardener1850!

 

[JanetElaine]

I agree. That's why I am so suspicious of his story. So far, we only have the BIL's word that he might have dementia. So to me, this is not a confirmed diagnosis with LE- just the word of his BIL.

[snip]

.....

rsbm and bbm

Right, the BIL said he believes Snider may have dementia. That's a whole different creature than BIL confirming with LE that he knows Snider has been diagnosed with dementia by a physician.

For all we know Snider knew if anyone, the BIL would be suspicious... so he built a smokescreen in advance. Everything added up I am still of the opinion Snider acted with sound mind. I'm crawling less and less back on the fence. I am however entertaining the thought of a mercy killing again...

Tennessee law http://statelaws.findlaw.com/tennessee-law/tennessee-euthanasia-laws.html says assisted suicide is a class D felony, and withholding medical care ('allowing the natural process of dying') isn't a crime. Usually the patient consents in advance, but it is not required.

Ohio law http://statelaws.findlaw.com/ohio-law/ohio-euthanasia-laws.html says assisted suicide may result in murder/homicide charges. Withholding medical care isn't a crime if the patient consented in advance.

Ohio's laws on this are clearly much more harsh than Tennessee. IF (speculation) this was assisted suicide/mercy killing/euthanasia, and he did it in TN, that does make a difference in possible prosecution, correct?

All MOO and IMO.

 

[moonriverfarm]

This just gets curiouser and curiouser.