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Just four days later, Phillips was apprehended and taken to Park County Jail. DNA collected from the bag he had thrown away matched DNA found on a glove at the crime scene of the brutal murders of two young women in January 1982. After nearly four decades of investigation, he faced charges for First Degree Homicide, First Degree Kidnapping, and First Degree Assault.
The Gruesome Murders of Annette Kay Snow and Bobbi Jo Oberholtzer
Annette Kay Schnee and Bobbi Jo Oberholtzer, though strangers, both vanished on a frigid night in January 1982 from Hoosier Pass. Schnee, aged 21, worked two jobs and was last spotted hitchhiking home after a shift at a pharmacy. Oberholtzer, 29, had enjoyed drinks with friends before planning to hitchhike back to her home in Alma. Neither woman was ever seen alive again.
Oberholtzer’s body was discovered first, showing signs of a struggle. She was found shot to death, with evidence indicating she had fought against her abductor. Schnee’s remains were located months later, face down in a creek. The connection between the two cases was solidified by the discovery of an orange sock near Oberholtzer’s body, which matched one found with Schnee.
A Disturbing Coincidence
In a bizarre and tragic coincidence, Alan Lee Phillips had been rescued from the Guanella Pass on the same night the two women were killed. After becoming stuck in a snowdrift, he signaled for help, only to be rescued by local authorities who had no idea about the ongoing investigation into the missing women. Phillips claimed to have been drunk while trying to drive home, completely unaware of the heinous acts he had just committed.
The Breakthrough in the Case
The case remained cold for decades until retired detective Charlie McCormick, who had pursued it for over three decades, helped crack it open. Phillips’ DNA was not in the national database, but McCormick collaborated with a genetic genealogy expert to run the crime scene DNA through a system that cross-references familial DNA. This led to Phillips’ identification and arrest.
While it took far too long to bring justice for these young women, advancements in DNA technology have allowed cold cases to be resolved. Eileen Franklin, Schnee’s mother, expressed her relief and heartache, stating she had endured 39 years of hell waiting for answers.
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