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Astrophysicist Murdered: Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
28 May
Summary
- Suspect pleaded not guilty to murder and carjacking charges.
- Victim was a 67-year-old Caltech astrophysicist named Carl Grillmair.
- Shooting followed the alleged carjacking of the suspect's mother.
A 30-year-old man, Freddy Snyder, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, carjacking, and burglary in connection with the February shooting death of Caltech astrophysicist Carl Grillmair. The incident occurred on the victim's front porch in Llano.
Prosecutors stated that prior to the shooting, Snyder allegedly carjacked his mother, firing a shot into the ceiling when she refused to hand over her car keys. He then reportedly drove her vehicle to Grillmair's home.
Grillmair, a scientist at Caltech's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, was shot once in the neck and died at the scene. Snyder was apprehended several hours later and subsequently charged.
A preliminary hearing for Snyder, whose bail was set at $3.175 million, is scheduled for June 5. The motive for the shooting has not been disclosed.
