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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON – A 43-year-old Chippewa County woman pleaded “no contest” in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, June 25, to second-degree murder, first-degree arson and two counts of second-degree, killing/torturing animals. The victim, Jeffrey Grant, 57, died during a house fire at 3746 N. Morse Rd., Sheridan Township, on Nov. 22, 2021. The fire was intentionally set by Hope Snyder, 43, of Kincheloe.
Snyder’s sentencing agreement calls for a prison term of 35-60 years. Snyder had rejected a plea agreement earlier this year.
Jeffrey Grant
“On Nov. 22, 2021, Snyder killed the victim and his two dogs by setting his Fountain home on fire while he slept,” states a press release from State Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office. “Text and Facebook messages revealed that an argument occurred between the victim and Snyder that night. Snyder also messaged friends about her plan to steal the victim’s truck and money and burn down his house. After setting the fire, she fled across the state in the victim’s truck and was arrested at Detroit Metro Airport.
“A thorough investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and arson investigators from the Michigan State Police led to Snyder being charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree arson and two counts of animals – killing/torturing second-degree.”
“This plea agreement ensures Ms. Snyder will face significant consequences for her unconscionable crimes,” Nessel. said. “I commend the diligent efforts of Michigan State Police and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, who worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victim, his family, and his beloved pets.”
Details of the case were revealed during a July 25, 2022 preliminary examination in Mason County’s 79th District Court. Following the hearing, Judge John Middlebrook bound the case over to 51st Circuit Court.
Mason County sheriff’s detectives were able to obtain a search warrant of Snyder’s phone and find her location. While en route to Detroit airport, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Det. Sgt. Tom Posma (now retired) and Det. Mike Kenney (now Det. Sgt.) reached out to airport police who then restrained Snyder. Posma and Kenney then conducted their first interview with Snyder at the airport and arrested her.
Det. Kenney obtained several warrants for digital files owned by Snyder, including items from her Facebook account and Google Gmail account. During testimony, Kenney read several messages between Snyder and Jacob Snyder, along with messages between Snyder and Lawn Schroeder, who, according to a Facebook account, lives in Anchorage, Alaska.
The scene of the Nov. 22, 2021 house fire on Morse Road in Sheridan Township.
Posma testified during the preliminary examination that Grant had driven Snyder to Mackinaw County on Nov. 19, 2021 where she was to appear in court for a probation violation. After the fire, Snyder stole Grant’s Chevrolet Avalanche (which was registered to Victor Adamczak of Fountain) and abandoned the vehicle in a hospital parking lot in Saginaw. Later, Snyder took a flight from MBS International Airport in Saginaw to Detroit Metropolitan Airport where she had then booked a flight to Alaska.
The Facebook messages were written Nov. 21 and 22 — the majority of which were prior to the fire on Morse Road, which was reported at 9:06 a.m. Snyder discussed, in the messages, that Grant was passed out or sleeping. She made reference to switching drugs with him because she believed he was attempting to drug her. As a result, he then passed out or fell asleep.
In one of the Facebook messages, Snyder stated: “But now I’m sitting here confused on what I should do now. Let the place burn and leave in the truck or pillow him…” She also stated that she had no patience for Grant.
In various messages, Snyder refers to Grant providing her with drugs. She discusses a plan that she describes as “crazy and heartless” to obtain drugs, a house, a truck and money.”
She also wrote: “I know I’ll just turn the gas on, the stove on, and just leave it that way. I’m not playing God. He has a fair shot of waking up.”
Later that morning, Snyder wrote a message to Jacob Snyder indicating that she was deleting her Facebook account and was making a new one.
“I’m freaking the (F*$%) out right now and don’t even know what to say.”
Kenney also testified that he had recovered several videos from Snyder’s phone including one that showed Grant sleeping, his keys and then his video security monitor that showed the Chevy Avalanche truck in the driveway.
During the 2022 hearing Det. Kenney stated Snyder’s motivation to killing Grant was that Snyder “was looking to get Mr. Grant’s dope and she was coming up with a way to get some money from Mr. Grant, contemplating taking his vehicle and somehow taking his money and dope.”
Sgt. Joseph Allen of the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit also testified. Allen conducted the investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Allen said a special fire investigation K-9 (dog) unit was also on scene on Nov. 22 and also when he returned to investigate further on Nov. 23.
Allen said he concluded that the fire originated in a closet located under the stairs on the first floor that lead to the second floor of the house. He said that an electrical engineer was hired to determine if the source of the fire was electrical. Allen said the electrical engineer ruled out that the cause of the fire was electrical. Allen said that he believed the ignition source was either consumed or removed by vapors and that he believed, based on the information provided to him by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office detectives was that the fire was intentionally set. He described the fire origin as incendiary using an alcohol-based gel to ignite it.
“It was an incendiary fire, meaning the suspect used a competent fire source to light a fire under the steps in the house,” Sgt. Allen said.
Snyder was initially charged with five felonies:
- Homicide, open murder, punishable by up to life imprisonment.
- Homicide, felony murder, punishable by life imprisonment without parole.
- First degree arson, punishable by up to life imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine, or three times the value of the property damaged or destroyed, whichever is greater.
- Animals, killing/torturing, second degree (two counts), punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.
- Habitual offender, third offense, increasing the maximum sentence on the primary offense to twice the term. She has served prison time for two prior felonies, a larceny to a building charge from Mackinaw County and a theft charge from Alaska.
Snyder remains lodged in the Mason County Jail without bond.
Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 27, in front of Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.
Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief, also contributed to this story.
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