Shivangi Sinha
The most perplexing aspect of Joe Shymanski’s murder in September 2023 and Brandon Holbrook’s conviction was the absence of a clear motive. Prosecutors were unable to establish any direct connection between the two men, apart from one crucial link, which was Joe’s ex-wife, Heather Snyder. The couple had recently finalized a contentious divorce, after which Heather briefly dated Holbrook. She ended the relationship shortly before Joe’s death, leaving investigators and the public with lingering questions. In CBS’s ’48 Hours: My Uncle Joe’s Murder,’ Heather gave an exclusive interview. She opened up about her relationship with Joe and the challenges she faced during the investigation.
Heather Snyder Started Dating Brandon Holbrook After Separating From Joe Shymanski
Heather Nicole Snyder was born and raised in Newport, Pennsylvania, a town she had always called home. In high school, she was crowned homecoming queen, and in 1998, she went on to attend Shippensburg University, where she studied until 2003. Her personal life flourished during this time as she got married and became a mother to three children. However, her marriage eventually ended, and Heather embraced her responsibilities as a single mother. She later met Joseph Anthony Shymanski AKA Joe while both were vendors at a weekly food and crafts fair at Washington, DC’s historic Eastern Market. She sold vegetables, and he displayed his photography. Their connection was instant.
Heather said she found Joe charming and believed his desire to have children aligned perfectly with her dream of building a large family. Heather and Joe married in July 2014 and settled in Calvert County, Maryland. Their family grew quickly and Heather gave birth to their daughter, June, in 2015, and a year later, their son, Jay, was born. At first, she believed their marriage was happy, but things soon took a different turn. Heather claimed that Joe began alienating her and her older children, and that he allegedly became emotionally and mentally abusive. The COVID-19 pandemic reportedly intensified the tension at home. By July 2021, feeling unsafe and overwhelmed, Heather moved with her children to Pennsylvania without telling Joe, which sparked a contentious legal battle over divorce and custody.
The court eventually granted joint custody of the children, but Joe was awarded primary physical custody during the school year. In April 2022, the couple officially filed for divorce, which was finalized by October. As part of the settlement, Joe was ordered to pay Heather $181,000, and she was required to provide him with monthly child support. Around 2021, Heather began dating Brandon Holbrook after meeting him online, though their relationship ended by mid-2023. Despite the separation, ongoing disputes over court order compliance continued between Heather and Joe. On September 1, 2023, Joe dropped off the kids as scheduled, but when Heather returned them on September 4, she noticed his personal belongings still inside his house, and she reported him missing.
Heather Snyder Hopes That Her Children Remember and Honor Their Father’s Memory
After the incident, Heather Snyder became a central figure in the investigation. Once Brandon Holbrook was identified as the perpetrator, she was questioned extensively and fully cooperated, providing phone records and internet history, insisting she had nothing to hide. Heather was present for Holbrook’s trial and was called as a witness by both the prosecution and defense. While the defense argued that investigators failed to consider her as a potential suspect, CCTV footage confirmed she had been home with her children.
Heather ultimately invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and did not testify, raising many questions, including from Joe’s family. She has consistently maintained that she never spoke to Holbrook about harming Joe and had simply expressed frustration at the circumstances. Heather has emphasized that she wants her children to maintain a connection with their grandparents, but insists they stop publicizing her family disputes. She remains transparent and has said that she has nothing to hide and is prepared to face whatever comes. Most importantly, she wants to honor Joe’s memory for their children and ensure they know their father and can remember him despite the tragedy.
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Heather Snyder is Working to Give a Loving Life to Her Five Children
Since the loss of Joe Shymanski, Heather Snyder has focused on building a stable and nurturing environment for her children while sharing her side of the story. She maintains a blog where she has discussed the challenges she faced during her marriage, including alleged abuse and mistreatment. She has raised questions regarding Joe’s alleged intentions surrounding a life insurance policy, which reportedly benefited only his two children just days before his death. Through this platform, Heather has aimed to provide transparency and context, giving her children, June and Jay, a deeper understanding of their family history.
Professionally, Heather works with New York Life Insurance Company, balancing her career with her passions for farming, CBD production, and chicken farming in Pennsylvania. Despite these commitments, her primary world revolves around her children and their relationship with her extended family. Her five kids, June, Jay, Tai, Jonah, and Naia, share a strong connection, celebrating both big milestones and small moments together. It is a foundation Heather treasures deeply. Heather has deliberately kept a lower public profile in recent years, choosing to focus on creating lasting memories with her family.
The loss of her father in 2022 was another significant moment that strengthened her connection to her children and extended family. She has worked to ensure that June and Jay understand their roots, traditions, and family values, while also supporting them in building meaningful relationships with their extended family. For Heather, life is now centered on stability and community for her children. Even amid all that she has going on, she continues to honor the memories of Joe and is keeping herself strong, intentional, and enduring.
