Married Veterinarian Pleads Guilty to Slaying Pregnant Lover

David Rapoport of Lansdale, the former Lower Macungie married veterinarian accused in the slaying of his pregnant girlfriend, Jennifer Snyder, today pleaded guilty to killing her and their unborn son in Lehigh County Court, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

An autopsy determined that Snyder, 27, of Lower Macungie, was in her first trimester of pregnancy and that the fetus was a boy. DNA tests later determined that Rapoport was the father of the unborn child, Martin said in a release.

Martin said he would not pursue the death penalty, and that Rapoport's plea agreement called for life in prison on both counts of murder.

Rapoport, 30, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Rapoport, represented by attorneys John Griffin and John Waldron, agreed to waive all appeal rights.

Rapoport, who Snyder's roommate said was upset that Snyder was carrying his child, and made arrangement to meet with her on March 16 because he had a "surprise" planned for her.

Snyder's family members had the opportunity to speak in court today.

Snyder’s father said she told him about the "special day" that Rapoport had planned for the couple in March: "She was very excited about possibility of receiving a ring from him, instead she received bullets from him," he said in _a Morning Call report_.

Investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police found Snyder’s vehicle found abandoned in a parking lot off Route 309 on March 17. The car had a broken passenger side window, and blood, chemical substances and two spent 9 mm casings were found inside. Another casing was found along Game Preserve Road, according to Martin.

On March 18, state police in a helicopter found Snyder’s body in a wooded area off Game Preserve Road in North Whitehall Township, about one to one and a half miles from where the car was discovered.

The investigation determined that Snyder and Rapoport, who were caught on video tape, met at a bagel shop on March 16, and left the shop at about 1 p.m. They went to Game Preserve Road where Rapoport shot Snyder twice in the mouth and once in the back.

Rapoport apologized to Snyder’s family and to his own, the release said.

“Every moment of every day, I ask myself why,” he said.