Teacher On Trial In Pa. Found Dead

Authorities say a Pennsylvania teacher on trial on charges of photographing teenage boys in revealing clothing was found dead in a car idling in his garage.

Police were sent to the home of Keith Snyder, 55, of Bethlehem, after he failed to appear in Northampton County Court for the third day of his trial. They found him in the passenger seat of a car parked in his garage, and the car's engine was running, police said.

Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden announced the death and sent the jury home. She did not provide any other details.

County Coroner Zachary Lysek scheduled an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

"At this time we don't know the circumstances of his death. But it's a loss for his family and friends," said District Attorney John Morganelli. "We felt this defendant committed crimes that negatively impacted young boys. Our office vigorously prosecuted the case, but on a human side, whenever a life is lost it is tragic."

Snyder was suspended from teaching at Southern Lehigh High School shortly after he was charged in 2005 with corruption of minors, solicitation of a minor to pose nude and evidence tampering.

Several teenage boys who were Snyder's former students testified this week that Snyder paid them extra if they performed chores at his home while bare-chested or wearing skimpy bathing suits or wrestling singlets.

He pleaded guilty in August to three counts of corruption of minors, and all other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. He withdrew the plea in October and requested a trial.

A message on Snyder's answering machine said that he was "under the weather" Tuesday night and had a severe headache. The message said he would return calls on Wednesday.

Snyder's attorney, Bohdan Zelechiwsky, declined to comment.