The investigation of Joe Shymanski 's murder began as a missing persons case. It was Sept. 4, 2023, at 7:47 p.m. when sheriff's deputies in Calvert County, Maryland, were called to the home of the well-known photographer.

His ex-wife, Heather Snyder, met them in the driveway. She would tell authorities she had arrived by car at about 7 p.m. from her home in Pennsylvania to hand off custody of their then-8-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

HEATHER SNYDER (bodycam video): Um, I was supposed to return the kids to him.

DEPUTY: OK.

HEATHER SNYDER: At 7 o'clock tonight ...

HEATHER SNYDER (bodycam video): … kids went in the house cause he did — he usually just comes right out, like he knows that they're coming.

But nobody was home. Heather Snyder had checked with the neighbors and c

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