The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Man gets 24 years for murder
Kajaun Anderson winked and smiled in the direction of visiting Common Pleas Judge Robert Brown on Nov. 29 moments before Brown sentenced him to 24 years in prison for killing Cody Snyder, 19.
Anderson, 19, of Elyria, is the last of five defendants convicted in the Jan. 23 shooting death of Snyder.
Anderson pleaded guilty to an amended indictment of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence in return for the 24-year sentence.
Associate Assistant Attorney General Micah R. Ault, a special prosecutor on the case, said the plea was agreed upon by all parties, including Snyder’s father, Ronald Snyder, and the Elyria Police Department which investigated the shooting.
Cody Snyder’s aunt Georgia Snyder addressed Anderson directly while giving the sole victim impact statement at the hearing.
“I want to tell you your actions have changed our family forever,” Georgia Snyder said. “You stole my brother’s son, my parents’ grandson, my niece’s brother, my greatniece’s uncle and our nephew and cousin, Cody Lee Snyder.
“You are a murderer. As you pulled that trigger, you had no respect for my nephew’s life. When you stand before God, you will get a just sentence.
“As you sit in your cell at night, I pray my nephew’s face will be continuously implanted in your mind.”
Georgia Snyder said that as her family celebrates the holidays, there is a place which will not be filled because of her nephew’s death.
When Anderson addressed the court, he apologized for the incident.
“I would like to say I’m sorry to Cody Snyder’s family, and I hope you can forgive me in your heart one day, and I truly mean that,” he said. “To my family, I love y’all and I’m sorry I put you through this.”
Anderson turned the the Snyder family and said, “But I’m truly sorry.”
With Anderson sentenced, the final work the court must do is sentence the four defendants who’d previously admitted their guilt and agreed to testify against Anderson.
In July, 18-year-old Justin C. Smith, of Oberlin, and 17-year-old Qwanda Woodson, of Elyria, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and trafficking in drugs.
In September, Jeffery Miraldi, 21, of Elyria, and Jenna Turner, 20, of Middleburg Heights, pleaded guilty to amended indictments as well.
Miraldi, son of Lorain County Common Pleas Judge John R. Miraldi, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in drugs, four counts of tampering with evidence and single counts of possession of drugs and permitting drug abuse.
Turner admitted to three counts of tampering with evidence.
Sentencing dates have not been set for the defendants.
Prosecutors said Miraldi, Turner and Snyder were in Miraldi’s father’s 2014 Ford Focus in the 100 block of Clinton Avenue in Elyria attempting to sell marijuana to Woodson, Smith and Anderson.
Anderson opened fire on the group and Snyder was hit, police said.
Miraldi drove Snyder to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center for treatment, authorities said.
While doctors worked to save Snyder, Miraldi had Turner take the Focus, a backpack containing marijuana, a cell phone and a firearm, provided by Miraldi, to her house to hide, police said.