Tuscola County man Snyder accused of killing trooper, 21
By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
WISCONSIN — A 38-year old Tuscola County man is accused of being a “cop killer and bank robber.”
The investigation of Tuesday’s crime spree involving bank robberies and murders in Wisconsin led the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to a residence in southern Tuscola County the next day, explained Tuscola County Undersheriff Glen Skrent.
Law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are mourning the senseless death of Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor Casper, 21, who was on his first solo patrol, when he was allegedly killed by Steven Timothy Snyder of Michigan.
Besides allegedly killing an officer, Snyder is also accused of murdering a civilian along with robbing two banks, and is being investigated for other crimes.
While unraveling the multi-faceted case, the FBI followed Snyder’s trail back to his residence outside of Kingston.
According to Skrent, the FBI contacted the department to request their presence about 1:50 p.m., Wednesday, at Snyder’s residence on Centerline Road in Koylton Township, while they executed a search warrant.
“Our department just did a standby at the scene,” said Skrent noting FBI special agents conducted the search inside the residence.
The local search was conducted because of the number of crimes Snyder allegedly committed Tuesday in Wisconsin.
According to reports, at about 2 p.m., the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the State Bank of Florence in the village of Wausaukee for a suspect discharging a handgun before robbing the bank and stealing a bank employee’s vehicle.
At about 2:30 p.m., Marinette County Sheriff’s was informed the body of a male victim was found east of Wausaukee along with a vehicle that was still running.
That victim was identified as Thomas Christ; and when searching the area, the vehicle stolen from the bank employee was found, the Associated Press reported.
Then, there was a report of a second bank robbery in Fond du Lac. At about 5:30 p.m., Casper reportedly spotted the robbery suspect. Details of how the shoot-out happened that killed Casper and Snyder are sketchy.
Why Snyder traveled from rural Tuscola County to Wisconsin, and a motive for his actions many never be known. He was a Detroit area cement mason who leaves behind a wife and child.
Learning a local man was involved in such crimes, was an a reminder to local law enforcement “that you just never know…”
Skrent noted he was some what taken aback when he learned the murder and robbery suspect he had watched on the news was living in the county and no one was aware of what he was allegedly capable of doing.
The Associated Press also reported that back when Snyder was 19-years old, served 50 days in jail in 1996 for brawl between neo-Nazi “Skinheads and those of other races. In addition, the Wisconsin FBI and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) are also investigating Snyder in connection to unsolved robberies inside and outside of the state.
This is a reminder when responding to a call it could be your last, and to be aware of any unusual behavior, said Skrent.
Casper had only graduated from the police academy three months ago. The day he was killed was the first time he patrolled without a partner.
Autopsies will be performed on Casper and Snyder to assist in determining what happened during the confrontation between the two.
“This remains an ongoing investigation, so we don’t have anything to share until its completion. I don’t have a timeline for that right now,” said Director of Communications and Public Affairs with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Anne Schwartz. “Our work on the case continues.”
In the meantime, Snyder’s family is grappling with their loss and several unanswered questions – with the main one being “why?”
In tracking down this exclusive story, the Advertiser contacted the FBI in Bay County, which district includes the Thumb area, the FBI media relations department in Detroit, the FBI in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.