4 sentenced in Elyria murder

Remaining defendants in Cody Lee Snyder case learn their fates

The last four defendants were sentenced Jan. 11 for their part in the murder of 19-year-old Cody Lee Snyder.

Snyder, of Elyria, was shot and killed Jan. 23, 2018, during an attempted robbery during a deal for a quarter pound of marijuana in Elyria.

On Nov. 29, Kajaun Anderson, 19, of Elyria, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the crime.

Anderson fired a shot that killed Snyder.

The four other defendants in the case Justin Smith, 18, of Oberlin; Qwanda Woodson, 17, of Elyria; Jenna Turner, 20, of Middleburg Heights; and Jeffery Miraldi, 21, of Elyria, son of Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge John R. Miraldi, pleaded guilty to their involvement and had agreed to testify against Anderson.

Visiting Judge Robert J. Brown sentenced Smith to eight years in prison.

Smith, who pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and

trafficking in drugs, apologized to the Snyder family before the sentence was handed down saying that none of it was meant to happen.

“I hope time will be able to heal you guys from now,” he said to the Snyders.

Under questioning from Brown, Smith said that he had undergone three or four drug deals with Miraldi prior to the Jan. 23 shooting.

He said Miraldi had first approached him about the sales.

Smith said that he and Woodson had planned to take the quarter pound of marijuana from Miraldi on Jan. 23, but it was meant to be more of snatch-and-grab type of crime rather than an armed robbery.

Smith said Woodson invited Anderson into the conspiracy, and he was unaware Woodson and Anderson were carrying guns.

Victim’s family

Georgia Snyder, Cody Snyder’s aunt, addressed the court and each defendant on behalf of her family.

“The choices that you made resulted in the murder of our beloved Cody Lee Snyder,” she said. “He was 19 years old. You played a vital role in this action and we will never forget that night.”

Woodson, who also received eight years in prison on the same charges Smith faced, apologized to the Snyders and asked the court for leniency.

“I hope you can forgive me for what I’ve done,” he said to the Snyders.

To the court, he said that he has improved since the shooting, when he was 16 years old, and prayed the court would have mercy on him.

“I know what I did was wrong and it was a horrible mistake I cannot take back, although I would if

I could,” he said. “I have found Jesus and God.

“Please give me a second chance at life. My mindset and the people I was hanging out with were all leading me down the wrong path. I am no longer friends with them.”

Woodson’s attorney James Burge gave an impassioned speech to Brown requesting mercy for his client citing his broken home life and exceptional abilities as a football player for Elyria High School which garnered attention from colleges allegedly offering him scholarships.

Woodson said he’s been working on completing his high school degree while he was lodged at the Lorain County Detention Home for the past year.

Georgia Snyder told Woodson that despite him being 16 at the time of the shooting, his actions had adult consequences.

“You brought weapons because you thought the possibility of having to use them or intimidate,” she said. “That is an adult action.

“Cody had a prospect of having a good life. He was 19 years old, he graduated, he had a good job and he had a future despite the physical challenges of cystic fibrosis.”

Pamela Short, another of Cody Snyder’s aunts, also addressed Woodson saying that she has a son his age and that she was a silent cheerleader for him while he played for Elyria High.

“We rooted you on and I will still cheer for you that while you’re behind where you need to be, that you take advantage of what you need to,” Short said. “Our community needs you to come out a stronger man than what you sit there today.

“You need to grow. You need to forgive yourself and be accountable for your actions.”

Turner’s involvement

Turner received a twoyear suspended prison sentence and was ordered

to serve six months in the Lorain County Jail for the three counts of tampering with evidence she’d pleaded guilty to.

She admitted to leaving the hospital, where Snyder was being treated, with his cellphone, the quarter pound of marijuana Miraldi intended to sell and the gun Miraldi provided for the crime.

Only the phone and car were recovered.

Brown voiced his surprise that she was the only defendant who had not been charged with “at least” involuntary manslaughter.

“I think you were fortunate that you were only charged with tampering and not a more serious offense,” he said. “The police never recovered the gun or the marijuana.”

Turner apologized to the Snyder family and the Elyria Police Department.

Under questioning from Brown, Turner said the night of the murder was like any other night and that she had accompanied Miraldi and Snyder on a few drug sales before they met with Smith, Woodson and Anderson.

Georgia Snyder said she holds Turner partly responsible for her nephew’s death.

“I drove that route from where Cody got shot to the hospital two different ways, and not once did you pick up the phone to call 911,” she said. “That’s something that’s hard to swallow knowing you had a cell phone in your hand and you did not call for help for our family member.”

Short agreed adding that Turner knew right from wrong.

“You thought you were above the law and destroyed evidence,” she said. “You knew that was wrong. I hope every night when you go to bed that it runs through your head, that same night on Jan. 23, that you hear our nephew’s last breaths.”

Turner must report at 9 a.m. Jan. 18.

Last defendant

Miraldi, who pleaded guilty in September to charges of involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in drugs, four counts of tampering with evidence and single counts of possession of drugs and permitting drug abuse, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Miraldi apologized to the Snyders and the court saying that Cody Snyder was his good friend.

“I miss him, and I’m sorry for my role in what happened that night,” he said.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Christian H. Stickan, in addressing the court, pointed out that Miraldi has a very privileged background and that he chose to take the actions that led to Snyder’s death.

“He put aside all of the advantages that he had and decided he’s going to make his living, I guess, selling drugs,” Stickan said.

Georgia Snyder said Miraldi is not above the law.

“You have had many opportunities in life that many other people have not had,” she said. “You were Cody’s friend.

“I know that young men will be young men. Marijuana is not a victimless crime, there was a victim here and it was Cody Lee Snyder.”

Throughout the hearing, Brown remarked that if any of the six people involved in the Jan. 23 incident had not taken part, it probably wouldn’t have happened.

He emphasized that point when it came to Miraldi.

“You’re the one person that day, that if you’d made other decisions, none of this would have happened,” Brown said. “You decided what you decided. I don’t get it, given your background and advantages, I don’t get it.”

Brown ordered no contact between Miraldi and Turner while they are serving their sentences.