Man allegedly lured his wife’s fiancée into his car and choked her. Then he hid her body along a creek
Cold case solved.
A Pennsylvania man is now behind bars after admitting to a horrific crime that remained hidden for nearly seven years. According to Law&Crime, David Allen Snyder, 39, currently faces charges of first-degree murder and strangulation. He stands accused of taking the life of 38-year-old Kimberley Gsell. The case centers on a chilling sequence of events from September 2019.
Authorities say Snyder lured Gsell into his vehicle under false pretenses. He reportedly told her that his wife, Amanda Snyder, wanted to see her at the hospital. At the time, Gsell was engaged to Amanda, despite Amanda still being legally married to David.
The situation at the Rodeway Inn in Carlisle had turned volatile shortly before this. Gsell and Amanda had checked into room 312 on September 27, 2019. A physical altercation occurred during their stay, resulting in an injury to Amanda’s nose. David arrived at the scene to transport his wife to the hospital for treatment.
Investigators initially accepted the accounts provided by the couple
David claimed he stayed near the hospital throughout the duration of his wife’s treatment. Amanda returned to the motel later and claimed that Gsell had vanished. She provided numerous explanations for Gsell’s whereabouts to family and friends. David maintained that he had not seen Gsell after dropping his wife off. These stories held up for years, but detectives eventually noticed significant inconsistencies in their statements.
The breakthrough in this cold case arrived after years of silence. Law enforcement officers confronted David with these discrepancies during interviews on September 25 and 26, 2026. Facing the pressure of the investigation, he finally confessed to the crime. He told investigators that he returned to the hotel while his wife remained at the hospital. He persuaded Gsell to get into his van by lying about Amanda’s wishes. Once Gsell was seated inside, he attacked her.
David allegedly placed her in a chokehold while using the passenger seat as leverage. He told the investigators that he believed Gsell was intoxicated at the time. He claimed she did not fight back while he carried out the act. After she died, he covered her body with a blanket.
David then moved Gsell to the rear of the vehicle. He drove to a secluded area in Cumberland County to dispose of the evidence and buried her body along the bank of the Yellow Breeches Creek.
David and Amanda then reported Gsell missing to family members and local police
The recovery of the remains occurred after David led police to the burial site on September 26, 2026. Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack held a press conference to update the public. He noted that the initial search revealed a single bone and the blanket used to wrap the victim.
Authorities then deployed more manpower to the area. A Pennsylvania State Police human-remains detection K-9 confirmed the presence of remains, per the Daily Voice. Anthropologists eventually recovered skeletal remains consistent with the description provided by the suspect.
Middlesex Township Police Chief Andrew Bassler commented on the history between the individuals involved. He stated that they were well aware of each other through mutual friends and direct friendships. The affidavit does not currently detail a specific motive for the killing. The community is left grappling with the reality of how this secret was kept for so long.
David Snyder is now held in the Cumberland County Jail without bond. A judge determined this was the only way to protect the community. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 7. District Attorney McCormack hoped for closure for the family. He stated, “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to provide a happy ending for Kim’s family, but hopefully now, we’ll be able to provide answers.” He added that the question of why this happened remains central to the ongoing court proceedings.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a situation can turn into a tragedy
The deceptive nature of the initial reports made it difficult for law enforcement to uncover the truth for years. It is a relief that the suspect is finally in custody. Everyone involved in the investigation hopes that the legal system will now bring clarity to this situation.
The process continues as the case moves forward through the court system. The preliminary hearing on October 7 should unearth more evidence. For now, the focus remains on providing answers for those who have waited years for the truth.
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