Unraveling a Decades-Old Mystery: How Orange Socks and DNA Brought Justice for Two Murdered Women

Some questions in this haunting story remain unanswered even today.

Colorado, known for its lofty mountain peaks, is home to the small town of Breckenridge, a community of fewer than 5,000 residents. Renowned for its heavy snowfall, Breckenridge experienced yet another fierce snowstorm on January 6, 1982. For locals, such weather was commonplace, but on that fateful day, 21-year-old Annett Shni’s life was tragically cut short.

Annett worked as a waitress and was scheduled for a night shift at a hotel near Breckenridge. She usually hitchhiked to work due to the considerable distance from her home. That evening, she set out to catch a ride as usual, unaware that she would never be seen alive again.

More than six months later, Annett’s body was discovered in a mountain stream, carried there by melting snow and ice. A gunshot wound was found on her back, but due to decomposition, investigators couldn’t determine when or where she was shot.

Her story was not the only tragic one. A 29-year-old woman named Barbara Oberholzer, who preferred to be called Bobby Jo, also vanished on her way home. After meeting friends at a bar, she left alone, opting to hitchhike to shorten her journey. Like Annett, Barbara disappeared after getting into a car. The next day, her body was found during snow removal on a mountain pass, bearing two fatal gunshot wounds.

That night held further drama. Alan Lee Phillips, a 31-year-old local mechanic, got stuck in the snow on a high mountain road. His pickup truck was immobilized, and he struggled to free it. When the snowfall eased, he spotted a passing helicopter and used his headlights to signal SOS. The pilots noticed and rescued him. Local newspapers widely covered his miraculous escape, while missing person posters for the two women were displayed throughout the town.

Police launched a rigorous investigation into the deaths of Annett and Barbara. Initially, detectives saw no connection between the disappearances, as the women were strangers and vanished from different locations. However, when Annett’s remains were found in July, authorities believed the same perpetrator was responsible.

During the search near Breckenridge, investigators found Barbara’s driver’s license, a blue backpack, a wool glove, a bloodstained handkerchief, and one striking piece of evidence: an orange sock. This sock became pivotal since a matching orange sock was discovered on Annett’s body. Authorities theorized that the killer might have used the socks to gag the victims or accidentally dropped one while removing the other, unknowingly leaving a crucial clue behind.

It was later confirmed that the socks belonged to Annett, knitted by her mother as a bright Christmas gift. Although no signs of assault were found, the victims’ clothing was nearly unbuttoned, indicating an attempt to undress them.

Investigators focused on local suspects, as it seemed unlikely an outsider would venture into the mountains amidst a raging snowstorm. The perpetrator likely owned a vehicle and was skilled at covering tracks, leaving detectives without any leads on his identity.

Annett’s parents refused to accept the case going cold. They hired a private detective for years, hoping to uncover any clue, but to no avail.

The case finally moved forward in 2020 thanks to advances in forensic science. Blood traces found under Bobby Jo’s fingernails suggested she fought back unexpectedly. Although initial tests could only identify the blood type, modern DNA analysis extracted a genetic profile from preserved samples. The DNA matched Alan Lee Phillips—the very mechanic who got stranded near the crime scenes during the snowstorm. By that time, Phillips was 70 years old.

Surprisingly, Phillips didn’t attempt to flee or hide from authorities. He continued living locally as if nothing had happened. Despite a year-long trial, he refused to testify or admit guilt. The motives and details behind the murders remain a mystery.

In September 2022, a jury unanimously found Phillips guilty of both murders. Two months later, the judge sentenced him to two consecutive life terms, as Colorado abolished the death penalty in 2020. Family members of the victims, including Barbara’s daughter who was orphaned at age 10, attended the sentencing. Alan Lee Phillips passed away in county prison in March 2023.

Detectives still wonder whether Phillips was involved in other unsolved crimes, as serial offenders rarely stop after only two victims. Investigations continue into his possible connections to other cold cases. Nevertheless, justice was finally served for Annett and Barbara after four decades.

Photos: AP/TASS, video footage, social media

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