Veterinarian pleads guilty to murder; will serve consecutive life sentences

Allentown, Pa.

— Veterinarian David Rapoport, 31, pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to murdering his pregnant mistress and their unborn child, a move that will spare him the death penalty.

He has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on the charges of first degree murder of veterinary technician Jennifer Snyder and first degree murder of their unborn child, according to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

Attorneys for Rapoport could not be reached by press time.

Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin announced months ago that his office would seek the death penalty against Rapoport after he pleaded not guilty at his June 10 arraignment on two aggravated murder charges.

In a statement at that time, Martin’s office said the charges—criminal homicide and criminal homicide of an unborn child—warranted the death penalty since multiple murders were committed and because, at the time of the killing, Snyder was pregnant.

Rapoport and Snyder worked together in the same veterinary practice outside Philadelphia until shortly before the murder. Police say the married veterinarian knew Snyder was pregnant with his child at the time of the murder.

According to her autopsy, Snyder was 10- to 12-weeks pregnant at the time of her death, police say.

Snyder was shot in the back and the head with a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun March 16. The suspected murder weapon and Snyder’s body were found dumped in a local nature preserve, according to the district attorney’s office.