Press Release

ELKHART — A two-year-old child was found dead in an Elkhart County home after officers went to conduct a welfare check and had an 18-hour-long standoff with the residence’s sole adult occupant.

On Saturday, July 6, officers with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive in Elkhart County to conduct a welfare check on an adult man and his two children.

Deputies arrived at the residence around 9:06 p.m. but were unable to contact the man. Deputies learned the man was at the home and was armed and threatened to harm his children and law enforcement.

The Elkhart County Regional SWAT Team responded around 12:09 a.m. Sunday, July 7, to secure the scene and attempt to contact the man. The man refused to exit the home and discharged a firearm before barricading himself in the home. This incident ultimately continued into the day, and the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team was requested to assist the Elkhart County Regional SWAT Team. The ISP Emergency Response Team then took over duties later that morning.

Many attempts were made throughout the morning and into the afternoon hours to contact the man with little success. Around 3:30 p.m. July 7, the ISP Emergency Response Team made entry into the home and took the man, identified as 37-year-old Ryan Snyder, into custody. A two-year-old boy was discovered deceased in the home. A four-year-old girl was also located, treated at the scene, and released to a relative.

Snyder was taken to a local hospital to be checked out and then incarcerated at the Elkhart County Jail. This case is being investigated by detectives with ISP and the Elkhart County Homicide Unit. The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case and determine charges against Snyder.