48 Hours Post Mortem | My Uncle Joe’s Murder
Oct 21, 2025
Nikki Battiste, a CBS News correspondent, dives deep into the chilling case of Joe Shymanski, a photographer whose mysterious disappearance shook their small town. Nikki shares her unexpected connection to the case through Heather Snyder, Joe's ex-wife, shedding light on the investigative details surrounding Joe's death. The trial's intense atmosphere, Heather's decision to plead the fifth, and the courtroom's reaction highlight the complexities of the case. Nikki sheds light on the lingering questions and public intrigue surrounding it all.
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Small-Town High School Connection
- Nikki Battiste and Heather Snyder grew up in the same tiny Pennsylvania town and crowned each other homecoming queen years apart.
- Nikki had not seen Heather since high school until reporting on the case which made the assignment feel surreal.
Missing vs. Murder Clues
- Friends noted Joe's keys, wallet, and cars were inside his house, and blood appeared in his driveway the next morning.
- Those details convinced his circle early that Joe was not merely missing but likely the victim of foul play.
Contradictory Texts Around Disappearance
- Heather Snyder texted Brandon Holbrook the night Joe vanished saying she had no idea where he was, yet exchanged intimate texts with Holbrook less than a week earlier.
- Heather told Nikki she had lied about breaking up and claimed she was 'just talking' and visiting his house when asked about the pillow text.