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Local News

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

2 indicted in slaying
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By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Findlay resident Cornelius Patterson Jr. was indicted Tuesday on a murder charge in connection with the Oct. 18 slaying of David A. Snyder at a city apartment complex.

A Hancock County grand jury issued four indictments against Patterson, 30, including an unclassified felony charge of aggravated murder. The charge does not carry a capital murder specification, which means he could not be executed if convicted, county Prosecutor Mark Miller said.

Other indictments issued against Patterson are: aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; improper discharging of a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

He also is facing an additional firearm specification, which carries a three-year prison sentence, according to Miller.

Charged alongside Patterson during a special session of the grand jury Tuesday was his girlfriend, Stacey R. Daniels, aka Stacey R. Combs, 30, also of Findlay. She was charged with obstructing justice, a third-degree felony.

Daniels allegedly helped Patterson flee the crime scene at Melrose Manor Apartments, 2200 Jennifer Lane.

According to Findlay police, Patterson fled to Toledo, where he was captured by Toledo police.

Findlay police say Patterson, who is being held in the Hancock County jail, allegedly used a handgun to fire a single bullet at Snyder, 26, around 5 a.m. on Oct. 18. The two men lived in the same apartment complex.

The shooting came after an argument between Snyder and Daniels, police have said.

The burglary indictment alleges Patterson kicked in the door of Snyder's girlfriend's apartment, where Snyder was, before shooting him. Patterson was also charged with shooting off the gun in the apartment complex.

The tampering with evidence charge alleges the handgun was removed from the apartment so it would not be available for evidence, Miller said.

The gun was found along a road, but Miller would not disclose where.

If convicted of aggravated murder, Patterson is facing up to life in prison. He would have to serve at least 20 years before he could be released on parole, Miller said.

The burglary charge carries a maximum prison term of three to 10 years. Improper discharging of a firearm into a habitation has a two- to eight-year prison term, and tampering with evidence carries a sentence of between one and five years in prison, according to Miller.

Both Patterson and Daniels are set to be arraigned on Nov. 4.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

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12 Comments (2 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
tim wrote:
ava
“ talk to the prosecutor's office not the police ”
Friday, October 30, 2009 5:05:17 PM
Former Resident wrote:
Ava and Odell
“ @ava - go back and read all the comments. Doug was addressing Melissa, who posted about a gun-related death that wasn't part of this incident. Her post was about somebody who was cleaning a gun and killed somebody. She said that he hadn't been charged with not having a gun permit. Doug was stating that gun permits are not required in Ohio.

@Odell - This was not a mistake. A mistake is forgetting to dot an i or cross a t. It's not picking up a gun, pointing it at somebody, pulling the trigger, and then fleeing from the police. Describing this as a mistake is just plain wrong. ”
Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:42:13 PM
ava wrote:
mistakes......
“ everyone makes mistakes, yes!
but a "senseless and uncalled" for mistake such as this?? it is very unexceptable mistake!
one that will cost patterson the rest of his life in prison...perhaps??
it is pretty sad!
if you go on the death row search on ohio department of rehabilitation, you will see the majority of the offenders are not very old individuals because of a senseless "mistake" they made.
some very brutal murders and ones definitely uncalled for!
there is so much hate and anger and violence alone in this country!
if you think and feel so much anger, go do something with yourself and defend your country!!
to date this country has lost over 4000 troops, who give their life for our freedom.

and there are those who are taking lives EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE USA, for nothing but crime!
or in this case A STUPID ARGUMENT!
i understand maybe defending your girlfriend but to shoot someone is not a good enough reason!

she will have to live with the guilt for the rest of her life, knowing her actions caused such a tragedy!

patterson and his girlfriend will get to live the rest of their lives!

a family has lost a loved one!

odell it is very proper of you and your family to send your condolences to the snyder family.

PEACE NEEDS TO COME IN THIS COUNTRY AND ALL THE VIOLENCE AND HATRED NEEDS TO STOP! EVERYTHING THAT IS SO CRIMINAL!

THERE IS NO TIME IN THIS WORLD TO BE DOING TIME.......






 ”
Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:49:14 PM
ODELL SHAVERS wrote:
PATTERSON MURDER
“ IM MR PATTERSONS COUSIN.WHAT HE DID WAS NO DOUBT UNEXCEPTABLE!BUT WE AS HUMAN BEINGS ALL MAKE MISTAKES,SOME MISTAKES HAVE LESSER PENALTYS.PEOPLE IT ONLY TAKES 10 SECONDS OF NOT THINKING PROPERLY CAN COST YOUR WHOLE LIFE,AND PLUS THE LIVES OF THE ONES THAT LOVE YOU!OUR FAMILY SENDS OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE SNYDER FAMILY! ”
Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:59:00 PM
ava wrote:
KUDOS!
“ kudos to the police department and the detectives who got this guy off the street for a senseless murder over something so ridiculous!!
now do your job this same way and get the "shooters' off the streets who did the shooting back in july in the mound street area vicinity!!
with witnesses in this shooting as witnesses in this murder, you really need to make much more effort in making arrests!!
we as neighbors are still very hestitant in our surroundings!!
this seems to have been forgotten!!

and to doug, i am sure a law was broken!! how can you say it may not have been??
a life was lost tragically over something so stupid......an argument!!
and that was definitely no reason to shoot someone!! not a neighbor whether there was bad blood or not!!
this was not a justible reason!!
if the prosecutor didn't think there was no evidence, then why is patterson in jail??
and why was he indicted already??
can you explain that one??
are you kidding?? he went and kicked a front door in!! snyder did not go kick his door in!!
this definitely should not be considered a second degree aggravated murder!!
it should be classified first degree to the fullest extent of the law!!
to bad the death penalty can not be taken into consideration for this tragic murder!

20 years is never enough for taking a life!! especially so violently as it was!!

to the snyder family, my sympathy is with you and for your family. may god watch over your loved one. he will definitely be safe now in god's kingdom. and may he watch down as the motions take its course and smile viciously on patterson. for he will get his in the dungeon of hell!!




 ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:18:46 PM
Deanna wrote:
Findlay Police
“ I can actually say this time they did what they need two to get this man off the streets...This is why we need to make sure that tax is approved to keep our police force strong! If not our streets will be ran with less and more problems will occur! ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:36:59 PM
tim wrote:
Findlay Police
“ Since no one else has said anything and all people want to do is complain about your performance-I'll say it-Well done Findlay Police! Great job in getting this guy off the streets quickly! ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:43:31 PM
Deanna wrote:
David A Snyder
“ I am so frustrated with the fact that Patterson won't be sentenced to death so 20 yrs from now I will make sure he will not be seeing his freedom! My cousin David wasn't perfect, but this whole thing was unnecessary. His life was taken over stupid stuff and I hope Patterson gets what he deserves for killing him. Along with that the others involved will get theres too! In the end justice will be served and Davids memories will be remembered. I hope that the judge sets an example for all the hood rats and show them that our city will not tolerate these kinds of behaviors. ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 2:24:15 PM
Doug wrote:
Gun Permit
“ Melissa, in this wonderful state called Ohio a gun permit is not mandatory to own or carry a gun. To conceal a hand gun yes, but otherwise no. A life lost is always a tragedy but it doesn't always mean a law was broken, and at this point it seems the Prosecutor has not found evidence of any law broken.

http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_oh.htm ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:17:27 PM
Jamie wrote:
Suffer Plenty
“ I hope they give life or even the death pentalty for what this man has doneto David. This kid was a very good kid who died over a little argument. His family has lost so much and it was unjust. I hope Cornelious and his girlfriend suffer for the rest of their lives. David was a hard worker and a very nice person. His Dad lost a wonderful son. Clarence my heart and love go out to you and I am sure justice will be done. ”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:24:30 AM
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