Coroner rules child’s death homicide

Eric Leake and David Kihara

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 | 11:06 a.m.

Two-year-old Adacelli Louise Snyder died because she was malnourished and neglected, the Clark County coroner said Tuesday.

The toddler's mother had reported finding her dead on June 29. Neighbors told reporters and investigators that the child had long been underweight and lived in squalid conditions.

The Clark County Coroner's Office determined Adacelli's death was a homicide, officials said Tuesday. Officially she died of cachexia, or general wasting, due to malnutrition and neglect.

Clark County Assistant Coroner John Fudenberg said that the Adacelli had a "skin and bones appearance."

"This is just a tragic case and a very unfortunate situation when a 2-year-old dies as a result of this situation," Fudenberg said.

The coroner's conclusions allow for criminal charges to be filed against Adacelli's mother, Charlene Snyder, should prosecutors decide to pursue the case.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said that his office will examine the case once it receives it, and then will decide how to proceed.

"We will review all the police reports to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to go forward," Roger said.

Snyder's aunt, Laura Dunlap, is a registered nurse living near Miami and said she was not surprised by the coroner's determination. She said Snyder was never fit to be a mother.

"She doesn't have the compassion that it takes to mother a child," Dunlap said. "Charlene is a really sad case."

Snyder, 28, called police to her home in the Acacia Mobile Home Park June 29 when she found Adacelli unresponsive. The child had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

After Adacelli's death, Snyder's three other children were placed into protective custody. Neighbors at the mobile home park said Synder's home, which she shared with her boyfriend, was unkempt and smelled of sewage. They said the Snyder children were rarely seen.

Attempts to find Snyder were unsuccessful. Dunlap said she thought Snyder was homeless.

Dunlap said the children are now living with their grandmother.

"Last time I talked to her Charlene hadn't even called to check on her children," Dunlap said. "She (the grandmother) said the kids are really doing pretty good."

Dunlap said Adacelli's death has left her entire family in grief and shock. She said Snyder has since been evicted from the mobile home park.

"The best she can hope for is to find some psychiatric help because obviously you're not mentally stable if you can sit there and watch your baby die," Dunlap said.