Park County, CO – On Sep. 15, 2022, after just five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Alan Phillips on all eight charges in the murders of Annette Schnee and Bobbi Jo Oberholtzer. A cold case since 1982 until recently discovered DNA matched the 71-year-old Colorado man to the crime, Phillips now faces life in prison. For details, please see the press release from the 11th Judicial District.
On March 22, 2021 Phillips was charged with three counts of First-Degree Murder and one count of Second-Degree Kidnapping for both victims. The trial began on Aug. 29, 2022 in Park County District Court with 11th JD Deputy DA Mark Hurlbert and Deputy DA Stephanie Miller prosecuting the case. He will be sentenced in November.
DNA from some of the case evidence and match it through genealogy to two brothers. Only one of them, Alan Phillips, had lived in Colorado. Investigators tested a DNA sample from some of his garbage and determined that he was a match. He was arrested, tested again, and the original DNA match was confirmed. More of Oberholtzer’s clothes from her death were tested and resulted in further DNA matches. Phillips, a miner and automobile mechanic, lived in the area the past four decades. He was arrested in early 2021.
Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw is also thankful to bring this case to a close. He 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 bring closure and justice in this case.
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