COLDWATER MI, (WTVB) – The attempted murder case of McCain Snyder took an unexpected turn on Monday when acting Branch County Circuit Judge Brent Weigle stepped down and recused himself from the case.
The 24-year-old Snyder faces two counts of attempted murder for allegedly running down a Coldwater Lake couple with his truck June 10, 2024, an incident tied to his alleged obsession with their granddaughter
Judge Weigle announced his recusal during court proceedings on Monday, pointing to two specific conflicts of interest that made his continued involvement impossible.
First, he noted a past personal relationship with one of the alleged victims. Second, he cited his own extensive history overseeing Snyder’s mental health cases during his previous tenure as a Branch County District Court Judge.
Following the recusal, the legal proceedings will be transferred to a new judge to guarantee an impartial trial.
The victims, 83-year-old David Sluyter and 79-year-old Jill Sluyter, were struck in what law enforcement officials have characterized as a deliberate act.
As a result, Snyder faces two counts of attempted murder along with multiple other criminal charges. The court will now halt proceedings temporarily while a new judge is appointed to manage the pending charges and preside over the upcoming trial.
As for Snyder he was found competent to stand trial on the charges last December following a series of mental health evaluations after he was initially found incompetent to stand trial in September 2024.
As the case now await a new judge to oversee the proceedings Snyder remains behind bars on a $10 million bond.
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