Lawyer: Vet Charged with Killing Pregnant Lover To Plead Not Guilty

, the veterinarian who stands his pregnant lover, r, in March, made a brief appearance in Lehigh County Courtroom 1C Thursday to waive his preliminary hearing.

He will be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. June 10 in Lehigh County Courtroom 4A before Judge Robert Steinberg. He plans to plead not guilty, his lawyers said.

Wearing faded navy blue prison issue and with hands and feet shackled, Rapoport shuffled into court and sat between lawyers John "Jake" Griffin of Philadelphia and Allentown's John Waldron.

Four rows along one side of the gallery were packed with Snyder's family, all of whom wore purple lapel ribbons. On the other side of the room, Rapoport's father, Jeff, sat alone.

After signing the waiver for Magisterial District Judge Jacob Hammond, Rapoport stood to exit the courtroom without saying a word save for the whispered dialogue with his lawyers. The session was over within 15 minutes of its start.

As he walked to the exit with his head down, Rapoport's father, Jeff, said merely, "David," upon which his son raised his head in acknowledgement.

The suspect has had plenty of family support, however, according to his lawyers.

Griffin said he speaks with Jeff and Nancy Rapoport, David's parents, daily or every other day.

Waldron added that Elizabeth Rapoport, David's wife, also speaks with her husband as frequently and has visited him in prison. She had planned to attend the Thursday hearing, but changed her mind when she found out how short it was likely to be.

Griffin said there has been no formal discussion about Rapoport possibly receiving the death penalty, but anticipates Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin might be "leaning" in that direction.

"It's too early to talk about that," Griffin said.

Rapoport, 30, most recently practiced in Harleysville. He was arrested March 22 and is charged with killing Snyder, 27.  Snyder was a veterinary technician who worked and lived at Maple Hills Veterinary Hospital along Kressler Road. The two met when Rapoport worked there as well.

The two had a relationship for about three years, and Rapoport, who has been married for about six years, did not take well the news that Snyder was pregnant with his baby, according to court documents.

State police released a missing person's alert regarding Snyder on March 17. The bulletin listed her as "endangered." She was last seen about 11:30 a.m. the day before, police said.

A body was found March 18 in a wooded area near Trexler Nature Preserve in North Whitehall Township and later identified as Snyder's, police have said.

Court records reveal investigators' allegations as follows:

Rapoport texted Snyder to meet him at a "surprise" location on March 16. A surveillance camera showed Snyder and Rapoport together on that date at Sam's Bagel and Deli, 4041 Route 309 in North Whitehall.

Rapoport allegedly shot Snyder in her vehicle that same night, wrapped her in a blanket, poured bleach on it, wrapped her in garbage bags and sealed it with duct tape. He then dumped her body near the nature preserve.

Snyder's vehicle was found March 17 in a rear parking lot of a professional building about two miles from where her body would eventually be found, police have said.

Court records also have said Rapoport purchased a 9-mm handgun on March 11 and he bought cleaning supplies hours before meeting Snyder on March 16. Ballistics tests matched the casings found in Snyder's vehicle and near her body to the gun of Rapoport.

Rapoport has been held in Lehigh County Prison without bail.