Two Park County cold cases solved, killer brought to justice after 40 years

PARK COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- After 40 years, the suspect of two cold cases was brought to justice.

On Jan. 6, 1982, 21-year-old Annette Schnee went missing while hitchhiking home from Breckenridge to Blue River. According to the District Attorney's Office, 29-year-old Bobbi Jo Oberholtzer, who was also hitchhiking from Breckenridge to Alma, went missing later that night.

Oberholtzer’s husband reported her missing and the next morning her driver's license, ID cards, blue backpack, an orange booty, wool gloves, and tissue covered in blood were found. Later that afternoon, her body was found 400 feet from the top of Hoosier Pass, off the road, hidden by snowbanks.

According to the DA's Office, she had been shot twice.

It wasn't until July 3, 1982, when Schnee's body was found. According to the DA's Office, a boy fishing outside Fairplay found her, she had been shot twice in the back. She was wearing an orange booty that matched the one found near Oberholtzer.

After her body was found, the Schnee family hired a man named Charlie McCormick to look into the case. The DA's Office says he eventually contacted United Data Connect, a forensic science company specializing in DNA work.

The company was able to extract DNA from some of the case evidence and matched it through genealogy to two brothers. One of the brothers, Alan Philips, had lived in Colorado. According to investigators, he was a miner and an automobile mechanic who lived in the area for the past four decades.

According to the DA's Office, investigators tested DNA obtained through his garbage and determined he was a match. After he was arrested in early 2021, investigators tested his DNA again and the original DNA match was confirmed.

Additionally, more of Oberholtzer's clothes were tested which resulted in further DNA matches.

Phillips was charged with three counts of First-Degree Murder and one count of Second-Degree Kidnapping for both victims on March 22, 2021.

His trial began on Aug. 29, 2022, in Park County District. After a two-and-a-half-week-long trial and five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted now 71-year-old Phillips on all eight charges.

According to the DA's Office, he faces life in prison and will be sentenced in November.

In a press release, 11th Judicial District DA Linda Stanley said, “Bobbi Jo was a fighter and is a hero. She fought back and because of that we were able to get DNA evidence to convict Annette and Bobbi Jo’s killer after all this time.”

“It is an incredible feeling to have justice after so long,” DDA Hurlbert said in a press release. “And to bring some closure to the families.”

Some of the victim’s families were able to see Phillips brought to justice, including Schnee’s mother,
brother, and two of her sisters as well. One of Oberholtzer’s daughters and her husband, who testified in the trial, were also present.

According to the DA's office, Oberholtzer's husband had been a suspect for a long time, and Co-Counsel DDA Miller said it was closure for him and a relief to finally clear his name.

In a press release, Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw credits the Park County Sheriff’s Office, 11th Judicial District Attorneys, CBI investigators and crime analysts, and United Data Connect for all coming together to solve these cold cases.

DDA Hurlbert said in a press release that this was a great reminder that cold cases are never closed.

“This absolutely gives hope to people. This case being so old, this shows there’s no case that can’t be solved.”