Dunwoody Prep Shooting: State Collects More Evidence, Request for Documents Denied

The estranged wife of Hemy Neuman, the suspect in the Dunwoody Prep Murder, isn’t going to get a peek at the evidence in the criminal case, according to court order filed this week – at least not yet.

Ariella Neuman and her attorney, Esther Panitch, filed court papers earlier this month asking that the DeKalb County Attorney share information from the criminal case about the relationship between Rusty Sneiderman's widow and Hemy Neuman.

Ariella Neuman is seeking a separation from Hemy Neuman.

Panitch, a Dunwoody-based attorney, also asked for the opportunity to take sworn statements from both the suspect and Andrea Sneiderman, the wife of the victim.

This week, a DeKalb County Judge denied the request on a technicality, as the subpoenas and notices weren’t properly served, according to the court order. The 

Panitch said she’ll be resubmitting the request again, either Friday or sometime next week.

Hemy Neuman, 48, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Russell ‘Rusty’ Sneiderman outside of Dunwoody Prep, a Dunwoody Village preschool, on Nov. 18. Sneiderman had just dropped off his 2-year-old son when police allege Neuman walked up and, without saying a word, shot Sneiderman several times from close range.

Sneiderman, 36, a Dunwoody father of two, was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after.

Panitch said Friday she and her client believe that Hemy Neuman and Andrea Sneiderman, the wife of Rusty Sneiderman, were having an affair. Neuman worked with Andrea Sneiderman at General Electric in Marietta.

Panitch declined to share any evidence she has of such a relationship, but said she does have support for that claim.

“I certainly wouldn’t have made the allegation if I didn’t,” she said.

After the original request, the DeKalb County Attorney's office asked the court to deny Panitch's request, given the public nature of the criminal case. However, the attorneys office said if the court does grant the release of that information, it would like that information to essentially be put under a gag order.

In the criminal case against Neuman, a further search warrant application was filed Wednesday, but the application for the warrant was sealed by court order.

The state has also filed a second list of discovery – an index of more evidence collected in the case. The last list gave a glimpse .

Included in the new evidence index is:

• Andrea Sneiderman’s cell phone information, along with her resume and emails

• video from a Dalton gun show

• information from Rusty Sneiderman’s phone

• emails from Hemy Neuman

• More information on the rental van allegedly used in the shooting