On May 24, 2019, Kristen M. Snow, a 30-year-old woman from Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, succumbed to injuries that had plagued her for nearly eight years. A graduate of Ridley High School and a juvenile court clerk for Delaware County, Kristen's life was irrevocably altered by a violent neighborhood dispute that unfolded on the morning of October 10, 2011. The conflict, simmering over the construction of a shed in her family's backyard, reached a horrifying climax when their 72-year-old neighbor, James Dellavecchia, decided to take matters into his own hands.
In the pre-dawn hours of that Monday, Dellavecchia lay in wait. As Kristen's stepfather, 42-year-old Scott Robins, was leaving for work, Dellavecchia emerged and opened fire, shooting him multiple times. Hearing the commotion, 23-year-old Kristen ran outside to help her stepfather and was also shot by Dellavecchia, suffering a single, devastating wound to her abdomen. A coworker of Robins, who was waiting in a van, managed to escape unharmed as Dellavecchia continued to fire. Before succumbing to his injuries at the hospital, Robins was able to identify his attacker to the police.
The aftermath of the shooting was a long and arduous journey for Kristen. She was left in critical condition and spent six weeks in a coma, followed by numerous surgeries. Despite the severe physical and emotional trauma, she found the strength to testify against Dellavecchia during his trial. She recounted the horrific memory of him standing over her, pointing the gun at her head before walking away. Her testimony, along with her stepfather's dying declaration, was crucial in securing a conviction.
James Dellavecchia was arrested shortly after the shooting at his home. In September 2012, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Scott Robins and attempted murder for the shooting of Kristen Snow. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional seven to fourteen years. Dellavecchia died in prison in 2020. For Kristen, the years following the attack were filled with physical challenges and the profound grief of losing her stepfather, a pain she carried until her own untimely death as a result of the injuries she sustained that tragic day.
