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MURRAY — Two people were charged Friday with murdering a man whose body was found stuffed in a garbage can in the basement of a vacant home nearly 12 years ago.
Clint Veon Snyder, 52, and his niece, Brittany Lin Snyder, 31, both from Murray, were charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony. Both are accused of killing Michael Lewis, 24, whose body as found in a garbage can at 5316 S. Hamlin Street on March 10, 2004, a day after he was reported missing.
He had been stabbed multiple times, and investigators determined he had been dead several days before he was discovered. The medical examiner found stab wounds to Lewis' neck and torso, and a cut on his scalp with no defensive wounds, charging documents state.
His "pants pockets were turned out and no identification, wallet or cellphone was located," according to the charges.
Lewis was last seen by his mother on March 6 when he left to meet Brittany Snyder at the house where his body was later found, according to court records.
Police say Snyder was reportedly "upset" with Lewis. In the basement of the vacant structure, Lewis was allegedly confronted by both Snyders and a third person who is only identified as B.D. in charging documents.
"Brittany Snyder sprayed Mr. Lewis in the face with pepper spray, and Clint Snyder grabbed Mr. Lewis from behind and pulled him to the ground," the charges state. "Brittany Snyder then stabbed Mr. Lewis multiple times" while Clint Snyder restrained Lewis.
When Clint Snyder released Lewis and he lie motionless, Brittany kicked the man in the head several times, according to charging documents. Clint Snyder and B.D. then allegedly put Lewis in a trash can.
B.D. told investigators that when Brittany later learned that detectives would be fingerprinting her, she took a safety pin and "began picking and tearing up her fingerprints," the charges state.
Detectives said Clint Snyder told them he had heard Lewis was stabbed to death, a detail that was never released publicly.
Another informant told investigators that Brittany Snyder had previously requested on four different occasions that members of her boyfriend's gang kidnap and beat up Lewis, the charges state.
Bail for the Snyders is set at $1 million.
