CANTON, New York (WWNY) – There are new revelations — and still some unknowns — in the murder of a SUNY Potsdam student.
New details came out during and after arguments in St. Lawrence County Court over bail for 31-year-old Michael Snow of Massena.
He’s charged with murder in the death of 21-year-old Elizabeth Howell on Feb. 18. He was arraigned on those charges in county court Friday.
A sawed-off shotgun was found in a police raid at his apartment. It’s not the murder weapon, which has not been found. The gray Honda Civic state police asked the public to help locate has been found.
District Attorney Gary Pasqua argued Snow should be held without bail.
“I would remind the court this was a random act of violence,” he said. “Given the defendant’s history, the accusations contained in this indictment, I do believe the defendant is an extreme risk of flight.”
Snow pleaded not guilty to the murder charge as well as charges of manslaughter, assault, and criminal use of a firearm. The judge ordered him held without bail. He’s due back in court June 13.
He faces up to life in prison.
A grand jury indicted him on the charges on March 31.
He has been incarcerated since police raided his apartment in Massena Feb. 19 — the day after Howell was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds just off campus.
The 21-year-old Howell was pronounced dead a short time later at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.
A scheduled April 11 arraignment for Snow was canceled after he showed COVID-like symptoms at the jail.
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