Ruth Snyder, 32, was married to Albert Snyder, 44, but when their marriage started going downhill, Ruth began having an affair with Henry Judd Gray, 36; who was married as well.
It all started when a life insurance policy was taken out on Albert, where the amount would double if he was to die from an unexpected death. Supposedly, Ruth was the one who persuaded Judd to help murder her husband. On March 20, 1927, the Snyder couple returned home late from a party, where Albert immediately went to bed. What Albert didn’t know was that Judd was hiding in their house. Judd first struck Albert on the head with a blunt object, but it didn’t kill him. Albert began to put up a fight against Judd, but was struck again by Ruth. Ruth then proceeded to knock him out by using chloroform and then finished by strangling him with wire. Before Judd fled the scene, the two attempted to make the murder look like a burglary. After some of her jewelry was hidden, Ruth was then tied up and gagged.
During the investigation, police found the jewelry that was supposedly stolen, as well as a tie pin with Judd’s initials on it; but the pin actually belonged to Albert. While police were looking around the house, they discovered Judd’s name among Ruth’s things. When Ruth was questioned, the police lied by telling her Judd had already confessed, resulting in her blaming Judd for the murder.
During the trial, Ruth and Judd blamed one another, but they were both convicted of murder and were sentenced to death by electrocution. On January 12, 1928, Judd was the first one to go to the chair, followed by Ruth. Ruth’s execution was made well known because a reporter smuggled in a camera and took pictures of her while she was being electrocuted.
