Jury convicts Kingston man of murder

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- An Ulster County jury found a Kingston man guilty of murder and burglary charges following an eight-day trial on Thursday. Raymond Snyder, 41, faces a life in prison sentence.

On July 11, 2020, around 5 a.m., Kingston Police officers responded to reports of a shooting inside a home on St. James Street. When they arrived, they found Romero Underwood, 47, dead inside the apartment he shared with his girlfriend.

Police say he was pistol-whipped and shot to death. It also appeared to be motivated by drugs.

Through an investigation with help from the Forensic Identification Unit, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Snyder was arrested on January 20, 2021. The investigation determined a blood droplet on the wall inside the home matched Snyder's DNA profile.

Additional evidence determined Snyder's DNA was at key locations linked to the crime. It also placed him in a getaway car and the apartment where the two guns were found.

Found Guilty of:

• Two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, class B felonies
• Murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony

"I thank the jury for their service and dedication to their oath in hearing this case. A jury of three men and nine women spoke clearly and unequivocally this afternoon (Thursday), individually and collectively, in vindication of justice," District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said. "The unique challenges and unpleasant saga in the community about this case in Ulster County Court ended with the jury’s verdict today (Thursday). I am sincerely grateful to the family of Romero Underwood and the people of this County for keeping the faith.”

The trial began on Oct. 15 and consisted of witnesses, detectives and officers. State Police investigators, forensic experts and firearm experts also testified in the trial.

The trial was prosecuted by DA Nneji and Snyder was represented by Bradford White and Beth Gibson of the Dutchess County Public Defender's Office. Synder is scheduled for sentencing on January 10, 2025.