Michigan woman who told friends she planned to burn down man's house learns her fate

LANSING, Mich. (TCN) -- A woman will spend at least three decades in prison for setting fire to a home in 2021, killing a man and his two dogs.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office announced Aug. 27 that a judge sentenced 43-year-old Hope Snyder to 35 to 60 years in prison in connection with the deaths of Jeffery Grant and his pets. She previously pleaded no contest in June to second-degree murder, first-degree arson, and two counts of second-degree killing/torturing animals. She had initially been charged with first-degree murder.

According to prosecutors, on Nov. 22, 2021, Snyder set Grant's home ablaze while he was sleeping. Investigators obtained text and Facebook messages that showed Grant and Snyder got into an argument that night. Snyder reportedly messaged her friends that she planned to "steal Grant's truck and money and burn down his house."

After setting the fire, prosecutors said Snyder fled across the state in Grant's stolen vehicle, and authorities arrested her at Detroit Metro Airport. According to WPBN-TV, Snyder tried to flee to Alaska.

Authorities did not disclose the relationship between Snyder and Grant.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, "A lengthy prison sentence will never erase the pain or loss Mr. Grant’s family is experiencing, but it is a just measure of accountability for the heinous, violent actions that took his life."