Janet Sheppard Petty, a 54-year-old woman from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was found dead on January 3, 2014. Her death was ruled a homicide. Janet, who was born on March 22, 1959, in Montgomery County, Virginia, was discovered at her home by Forsyth County sheriff’s deputies. The authorities responded to a call to assist Forsyth County EMS at a mobile home located at 5327 Phelps Drive.
Upon arrival, they found Janet deceased and her boyfriend, Sanford Emanuel Snider, unconscious and unresponsive.
Sanford Emanuel Snider, 51 years old at the time, was arrested and charged with the shooting death of Janet Sheppard Petty. The couple had been living together for several years and had a volatile relationship. Snider was taken into custody and held at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center without bond. He faced a preliminary hearing on January 23, 2014.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Sanford Emanuel Snider pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Janet Sheppard Petty. The court proceedings revealed the tumultuous nature of their relationship, which ultimately led to the tragic incident. Snider's guilty plea brought some closure to the case, but the loss of Janet Sheppard Petty left a lasting impact on her family and community.
