Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Couple appear in court over future of children

Pair accused in girl's death; fate of three youngsters at stake

Attorney Frank Toti, left, talks on Monday to Jack Richardson while Charlene Snyder listens to her attorney, Valarie Fujii, right, in Family Court. Snyder and Richardson face neglect charges in Family Court and murder charges in criminal court in connection with a 2-year-old girl's death. Photo by Clint Karlsen.

The couple charged in the death of an emaciated 2-year-old girl appeared Monday in Clark County Family Court for proceedings to determine the fate of the other three children living in their home.

Charlene Snyder and Jack Richardson in the Family Court hearing denied neglect in connection with the death of Adacelli Snyder.

Snyder's attorney, Valarie Fujii, argued her client should be evaluated to determine whether she is competent to stand trial in Family Court and in criminal court, where she faces a charge of second-degree murder.

Fujii said medical staff at the Clark County Detention Center, where Snyder has been held since her Aug. 9 arrest, have put her on lithium.

Fujii said Snyder has been institutionalized twice for mental illness for periods of 30 days or more in the mid-1990s while living in Florida.

"She said it was for manic depression," Fujii told the court.

Fujii said she is waiting for Clark County Child Protective Services to release files on prior allegations against her client and is working with the district attorney's office to obtain them.

Fujii said after court the key to the case is whether Child Protective Services acted appropriately or whether officials should have removed Adacelli from her home to save the girl's life.

Child Protective Services officials have said their records show the agency provided "intensive" case management for Charlene and Adacelli Snyder.

They said county social workers met regularly with the family and brought in a nurse and an intervention worker to work with Charlene Snyder. The nurse focused on teaching the mother how to cope with her medically fragile child, and others focused on parenting skills and bonding, the officials said.

Richardson's attorney, Frank Toti, said that after conversations with his client, he did not think the man needed to be tested for competency and should be able to stand trial in Family Court.

Richardson has been in held in Clark County Detention Center since his arrest last week.

Richardson also faces a second-degree murder charge.

Adacelli, who was born with cerebral palsy, died in a broken crib with soiled blankets, head lice, insect bites and wounds caused by severe diaper rash, Las Vegas police said.

She was isolated in a bedroom of a northeast Las Vegas trailer with her two sisters, surrounded by rotting garbage, feces, roaches and flies when police and paramedics tried to save her life, according to police reports.

Adacelli's two sisters, Annalisa Dees, 5, and Maryposa Dees, 4, and her 1-year-old brother, Jack, are with their maternal grandmother, Beverly Snyder.

Steve Hiltz, an attorney representing the children in Family Court, asked Family Court Hearing Officer Frank Sullivan to allow them to remain with the grandmother. Sullivan agreed.

But the children could become wards of the state, pending the outcome of the Sept. 13 Family Court proceedings, Toti said.

Adacelli last week was buried in an unmarked grave at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Cemetery minister Rob Wright said no one but the graveyard workers were present for the burial. But because of an outpouring of concern from area residents, the cemetery will hold a graveside service for Adacelli at 10 a.m. Thursday.