Alan Lee Phillips was arrested on February 24, 2021 for the January 6, 1982 murders of 21-year-old Annette Schnee and 29-year-old Barbara Oberholtzer in Park County, Colorado.
The two women were last seen hitchhiking near a resort town in Rock Mountain when they disappeared on February 6, 2021. Oberholtzer’s body was found in a snowdrift the next day by her friends and family. She had been shot twice in the back, likely while running away from her attacker. Schnee was not found until 6 months later. Her body had been dumped near a creek in rural Park County. She had been shot as well.
Investigators have not confirmed the source of the DNA sample used in the investigation, or whether the homicides involved sexual violence. The FGG investigation was conducted by United Data Connect. Phillips was under surveillance at the time of his arrest, but there is no data on whether police confirmed his identify through surreptitious sampling.
After the murders, Phillips became caught in a snowstorm, and had to be rescued from the mountain by emergency responders. That event was not connected with the double homicide until after Phillips’ arrest.
Phillips was convicted in Park County on September 15, 2022 of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the deaths of both women. On November 7, 2022, he was sentenced to two life sentences, to be served consecutively.
Sources:
Jablow, Matt. “Sheriff on United Flight Spots SOS on Guanella Pass in 1982, Decades Later the Rescued Man’s Charged in a Double Murder.” NBC News 9, May 23, 2021, last modified May 24, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2021. https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/double-murder-mountain-rescue-connection/73-6a464873-84da-4c1f-a64e-41cbc2f98282.
McRae. “Park County Sheriff Announces Arrest of Alan Lee Phillips in 39-Year-Old Cold Case Murders of Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee.” CBS 4 News Denver, March 3, 2021. Accessed March 4, 2021. https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/03/03/alan-lee-phillips-bobbie-jo-oberholtzer-annette-schnee-park-county-arrest-murder-breckenridge/.
Naham, Matt. “Colorado Man Rescued from Snowy Mountains on the Night Two Hitchhiking Women Were Killed Has Now Been Convicted of Their Murders.” Law & Crime, September 16, 2022. Accessed September 25, 2022. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/alan-lee-phillips-convicted-of-murdering-annette-schnee-bobbi-jo-oberholtzer/.
Naham, Matt. “Colorado Man Sentenced to Die in Prison for Murdering Two Women Hitchhiking Home on Snowy Night in 1982.” Law & Crime, November 8, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/colorado-man-sentenced-to-die-in-prison-for-murdering-two-women-hitchhiking-home-on-snowy-night-in-1982/.
Nicholson, Kieran. “‘Journey for Justice Has a Much Clearer Path’ Following Suspect’s Capture in 1982 Cold Case Murders Near Breckenridge.” Denver Post, March 3, 2021. Accessed March 4, 2021. https://www.denverpost.com/2021/03/03/breckenridge-cold-case-murders-arrest/.
Nieberg, Patty. “70-Year-Old Colorado Man Arrested in 1982 Murder Case.” Associated Press, March 3, 2021. Accessed March 4, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/arrests-colorado-c19200b16695b82d77e47033b71409b1.
Rogan, Adam. “Arrest Made in Murder of Racine Woman in the Rocky Mountains in 1982.” Journal Times, March 3, 2021. Accessed March 4, 2021. https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/arrest-made-in-murder-of-a-racine-woman-in-the-rocky-mountains-in-1982/article_51a11575-5ad5-5740-9f69-5438ff67d891.html.