Carl Grillmair, a 67-year-old Caltech astronomer, was shot dead outside his California home on February 16 after stepping onto his front porch around 6am. Freddy Snyder, 29, was charged with murder, carjacking, and first-degree residential burglary, with allegations that he personally used a rifle. Snyder pleaded not guilty and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 5, with potential life imprisonment if convicted. Investigators alleged Snyder armed himself with two rifles, demanded his mother’s car keys, fired a shot into the ceiling when she refused, and stole her vehicle. Authorities said he then drove to Grillmair’s nearby home, where Grillmair was shot once in the neck and died on his front porch. Grillmair’s work included research contributing to the discovery of water on a distant planet.
"Carl Grillmair, 67, was shot dead outside his California home on February 16 after stepping onto his front porch around 6am local time. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department charged Freddy Snyder, 29, with murder, carjacking and first-degree residential burglary, alleging he personally used a rifle during the killing. Snyder pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Tuesday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 5. If convicted on all charges, Snyder faces a potential life sentence in prison."
"Investigators alleged Snyder armed himself with two rifles in the early morning hours of February 16 and demanded his mother's car keys inside their home. When she refused, he allegedly fired a shot into the ceiling before stealing the vehicle and driving away. Authorities said Snyder then drove to Grillmair's nearby home, where the scientist stepped outside after noticing a vehicle in his driveway. Grillmair was allegedly shot once in the neck and died on his front porch."
"The veteran California Institute of Technology (Caltech) astronomer helped contribute to the discovery of water on a distant planet, with colleagues describing his work as 'ingenious' and saying the findings could help scientists search for signs of life less than 160 light-years from Earth. Grillmair dedicated over 40 years to advancing science. According to his Caltech biography, Grillmair specialized in research involving NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, studying galactic structure, dark matter and stellar populations."
"Grillmair's death drew national attention after it emerged alongside a growing number of scientists tied to sensitive aerospace, defense and advanced technology programs who have been reported missing or found dead in recent years."
Read at Mail Online
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