Snowden was an itinerant laborer in southwestern Idaho, staying in a hotel in Boise at the time of the murder.

[5] Cora Lucyle Dean was a 48-year-old woman who had just moved to Idaho from Pasadena, California, four months prior to her murder.

[4] On Saturday, September 22, 1956, 34-year-old Snowden went bar-hopping and drank heavily in Garden City,[6] adjacent to Boise.

He then stole Dean's wallet and hailed a ride from a passing motorist, who drove Snowden back to Boise.

During his interrogation, which lasted at least eight hours,[8] although he initially denied knowing anything about the crime, Snowden eventually confessed to Dean's murder.

[6] At one point, Snowden was also a suspect in the murder of a woman from Lynn, Massachusetts, by the name of Frances Cochran.

After verifying Snowden understood that his guilty plea would lead to him waiving his right to a trial by jury and could lead to a life sentence or an execution, Judge M. Oliver Koelsch scheduled a hearing for October 23 to determine the degree of murder Snowden committed, as well as a punishment.

"[6] Snowden's attorney also requested a commutation of Snowden's sentence based on purported mental illness, as well as based on the argument that the crime more closely resembled second-degree murder or manslaughter, rather than first-degree murder, and that the death penalty was a disproportionately harsh punishment.

[3] Shortly before midnight on October 17, 1957, guards escorted Snowden to the death chamber at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary.

In order to carry out Snowden's sentence, Idaho officials enlisted in the help of an experienced executioner from another state.

[14] When asked for a last statement, Snowden said, "I can't put into words what I want to say."