In a chilling turn of events, 70-year-old Alan Lee Phillips was unknowingly being tracked as he went about his daily life in a small Colorado town. On February 20, he made an appearance at a Sonic drive-thru and later disposed of a brown bag at the Dumont Post Office. Little did he know that the bag would serve as a crucial piece of evidence in a decades-old murder case. Just four days later, Phillips was arrested after DNA from the bag matched that of a glove found at the murder scene of two women in January 1982.
The victims, Annette Kay Schnee and Bobbi Jo Oberholtzer, went missing on the same frigid night in January over 39 years ago. Schnee, a 21-year-old juggling two jobs, was last seen hitchhiking home after a shift at a pharmacy. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Oberholtzer, who also worked in Breckenridge, had plans to hitchhike home after socializing with friends. Oberholtzer’s body was discovered shortly after, showing signs of a struggle and having been shot. Schnee’s body was found months later, bearing similar wounds and links to Oberholtzer’s case through evidence found at the scenes.
Intriguingly, on the same night the women were murdered, Phillips was rescued from a snowdrift in Guanella Pass. He had been driving under unsafe conditions, having gotten stuck while trying to return home after a night of drinking. The fire chief who responded to his SOS call had no knowledge of the ongoing search for the two missing women.
It took nearly four decades for authorities to connect Phillips to the case through DNA advancements. Retired detective Charlie McCormick, who had investigated the murders for over three decades, played a vital role in finally cracking the case. By utilizing genetic genealogy analysis, investigators were able to identify Phillips as the suspect, leading to his arrest.
The tragic delay in finding justice for the victims has left their families in anguish. Eileen Franklin, Schnee’s mother, expressed her long-awaited relief and desire for closure after nearly 39 years of uncertainty.
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In summary, the case of Alan Lee Phillips highlights the intersection of modern forensic science and the enduring search for justice, bringing closure to families affected by unsolved crimes.