Hudson Valley Murder Suspect Accidentally Released From Jail

A Hudson Valley man charged with murder was accidentally released from jail.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

In January, 38-year-old Raymond A. Snyder of Murray Street in Kingston was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree burglary, felonies.

On July 11, 2020, the Kingston Police Department received a call for shots fired at a home on St. James Street. Uniformed patrol officers responded and found 47-year-old Romero Underwood in the home with an apparent gunshot wound, police say.

He was treated by EMS at the scene and transported to the Broadway campus of the Health Alliance where he succumbed to the injury, police say.

The homicide investigation led police to believe Underwood was not a random victim but a target of a crime, the Kingston Police Department said days after the murder.

For all the news that the Hudson Valley is sharing make sure to follow Hudson Valley Post on Facebook, download the Hudson Valley Post Mobile App and sign up for the Hudson Valley Post Newsletter.

On Jan. 20, members of the Kingston Police Department’s Detective Division and Special Investigations Unit furthered the investigation into the death of Underwood with the arrest of Snyder. Police did not release a motive or say how their investigation led to Snyder's murder charge.

Snyder was released from jail this week because the Ulster County District Attorney's Office missed the deadline to file an indictment against him, according to Fox News.

The DA's office tells Hudson Valley Post their request for additional time to present the case to a Grand Jury was denied.

"The prosecution of the Snyder case is ongoing. This office requested additional time to complete the presentation of the case based on good cause, and that request was denied. We are requesting a reconsideration of that denial," Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg told Hudson Valley Post in a statement.

The DA's office said there wasn't enough time to present the case to a grand jury because of COVID-19 restrictions. An Ulster County Judge disagrees and pointed to 27 other cases recently presented to a grand jury, many of which were less serious cases.

Clegg tells us his office has worked on a number of serious cases, included murder.

"Despite limited Grand Jury time, in the past six months our office has indicted three persons for 2nd degree murder, one person for 2nd degree manslaughter, two persons for 2nd degree attempted murder, two persons for predatory sexual assault against a child, two persons for 3rd degree rape, three persons for 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon, one person for 2nd degree strangulation, two persons for 2nd degree assault, one person for 1st degree arson, two persons for 1st degree burglary, and one person for 1st degree robbery. We continue to prioritize cases involving violent crime and risks to public safety," Clegg added.

Keep Reading: