UNDATED (WSAU-Wheeler News) The F-B-I says a Michigan man who died while killing a state trooper in a shootout on Tuesday was a suspect in two bank robberies in Wisconsin that day — plus other unsolved robberies both in and out of the Badger State.
Steven Snyder is also suspected of killing 59-year-old Thomas Christ of Wausaukee, whose body was found near farmland he owned not far from the first bank hold-up.
Investigators are still trying to piece together what happened. According to various authorities, Snyder robbed the State Bank of Florence in Wausaukee early Tuesday afternoon, fired a shot there, and took an undisclosed amount of cash. He then allegedly killed Christ, whose body was found near a still-running pick-up truck stolen from a bank employee. Marinette County officials believe Christ was car-jacked, but that’s not certain yet. Three hours later, State Patrol officer Trevor Casper found the apparent car-jacked vehicle in Fond du Lac. The officer made contact with Snyder and then the shootout began outside a west side Pick-N-Save grocery store — about 500 yards from where Fond du Lac’s Hometown Bank was robbed, although Snyder’s possible involvement has not been confirmed. Authorities have not disclosed Snyder’s age and hometown in Michigan.
Trooper Capser graduated from high school in 2011 in Kiel, where residents grieved and the police chief said Casper had a “servant’s heart.” He was the first Wisconsin trooper killed in the line of duty since 1972.
