MEEKER — A man accused of killing his father with a hatchet over the 2009 Fourth of July weekend goes to trial this week in Rio Blanco County.
Jerry Snider Jr., 30, is accused of hitting his father in the head nine times with a hatchet. After the killing, Snider took Jerry Snider Sr.’s wallet and truck and made purchases with his father’s debit card, prosecutors said.
The younger Snider has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Grand Junction Sentinel reported that jury selection opens Tuesday in Meeker.
The younger Snider’s request to move the trial out of Rio Blanco County because of pretrial publicity was rejected. The jury will be told prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty in the case. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
