On June 9, 2021, three members of the same Snydertown family were found dead in their home on Snydertown Road: 17-year-old John Paul Dicken, his mother Susan Ann Williams, 58, and his father James Dicken, 59. State police say the killings arose from a dispute over the sale of a 1997 Toyota Camry.

Investigators identified 23-year-old Matthew Joseph Reed, then living at a local homeless shelter, as the person who arranged to buy the car. Police say Reed became enraged when the family sold the vehicle to someone else, returned to their home with a gun intending to steal the car and, during an argument, shot and killed all three before fleeing in the Camry. The stolen car was found later that evening at the Sunbury boat launch and Reed was arrested at the Haven Ministry Center. He was charged with three counts of criminal homicide, robbery of a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, and illegal possession of a prohibited firearm; bail was denied.

The sentencing and other developments have been reported; family members described the loss in deeply personal terms and the victims were cremated. If anyone knew the Dickens or has information about what happened that day, please share what can help the investigation and the families.