Missing youth presumed dead

OUNGSTOWN — James P. Hig-ham’s body hasn’t been found, but the search for the 16-year-old boy reported missing 51 „2 years ago is over.

Jennifer L. Snyder, 34, of Pyatt Street faces felony charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, child endangering and permitting child abuse. She was booked Tuesday into the Mahoning County jail.

City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said Snyder faces up to 23 years in prison if convicted. Snyder has a minor criminal record, nothing violent, police said.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said evidence indicates the boy was killed and his body disposed of in 2002. Snyder reported the boy missing Jan. 3, 2002. He had marked his 16th birthday a month earlier.

For more on this story, see Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.