7 Shocking Facts About Alan Lee Phillips: The Cold Case Killer Who Died Behind Bars

The decades-long saga of the "Orange Sock" murders has finally reached its definitive, albeit somber, conclusion. As of December 13, 2025, the most significant and final update in the case of Alan Lee Phillips is his death while serving two life sentences for the 1982 cold-case killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara "Bobbie Jo" Oberholtzer in Colorado. Phillips, a former Clear Creek County resident who was arrested after a groundbreaking DNA breakthrough, was convicted of eight counts including murder, robbery, and kidnapping, bringing a long-awaited measure of justice to the victims' families over forty years after the heinous crimes occurred. This article delves into the full, shocking timeline of the case, from the mysterious disappearances in Breckenridge to the forensic science that finally identified the killer, culminating in the final chapter of Alan Lee Phillips' life and the closing of one of Colorado's most infamous murder mysteries. The use of advanced genetic genealogy to solve the case highlights a powerful new tool in law enforcement, ensuring that even the coldest of cases can be cracked.

Alan Lee Phillips: A Brief Biographical Profile

Alan Lee Phillips was an ordinary-seeming Colorado man whose life was irrevocably tied to a brutal double murder for nearly four decades before his identity was revealed. The details of his life before the crime are sparse, but his subsequent actions and eventual arrest painted a clear, dark picture.

• Full Name: Alan Lee Phillips
• Date of Birth: February 6, 1951
• Residence at Arrest: Dumont, Colorado (Clear Creek County)
• Age at Crime (1982): 31
• Age at Arrest (2021): 70
• Age at Conviction (2022): 71
• Age at Death (2023): 72
• Victims: Annette Kay Schnee (21) and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer (29)
• Crime Location: Near Breckenridge, Park County, Colorado
• Conviction Date: September 16, 2022
• Conviction Charges: Eight counts, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery
• Sentence: Two consecutive life sentences
• Date of Death: Died in prison (approximately four months after sentencing)

The 1982 'Orange Sock' Murders: A Cold Case Defined

The term "Orange Sock Murders" became synonymous with the chilling, unsolved killings that haunted the Breckenridge, Colorado community for decades. The case involved two unrelated women who disappeared on the same night in January 1982, both of whom were believed to be hitchhiking.

The Disappearances of Annette Schnee and Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer

The victims, 21-year-old Annette Schnee and 29-year-old Barbara "Bobbie Jo" Oberholtzer, vanished on January 6, 1982, after being seen hitchhiking near Breckenridge. Schnee was last seen leaving her job at the Village Inn restaurant, while Oberholtzer was last seen at a local bar.

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• Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer's Discovery: Her body was found the following day, January 7, 1982, on Hoosier Pass, a mountain pass in Park County. She had been shot and her body was found with a distinctive orange sock tied around her neck, giving the case its macabre name. Her backpack and other personal items were missing.
• Annette Schnee's Discovery: Schnee's body was not found until six months later, in July 1982, partially submerged in a creek near the summit of Mount Guyot. She had also been shot. Crucially, a single orange sock was found near her remains, linking the two murders.

The initial investigation was hampered by the lack of technology available at the time, and despite extensive efforts by local and state law enforcement, the case went cold. The murders cast a long shadow over the mountain community, with the killer remaining free and unidentified for almost 40 years.

The DNA Breakthrough and Alan Lee Phillips' Arrest

The key to unlocking this decades-old mystery lay in the preservation of evidence and the advent of forensic genetic genealogy. Investigators meticulously re-examined the evidence collected in 1982, focusing on trace DNA left at the crime scenes.

In the early 2020s, Colorado authorities utilized advanced DNA testing techniques, which led them to a familial match in a public genealogy database. This process allowed investigators to build a family tree for the unknown suspect, eventually narrowing the focus to Alan Lee Phillips, a man who had lived in the area at the time of the murders.

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A Fateful Rescue in 1982: A stunning detail emerged during the investigation: Phillips was rescued from Guanella Pass on the very night the women disappeared. He claimed his truck had broken down. Detectives now believe this rescue may have been a ruse or a direct consequence of the crimes. This incredible coincidence placed him at the heart of the investigation.

In 2021, investigators obtained a direct DNA sample from Phillips, which conclusively matched the profile found at the crime scenes. He was arrested in February 2021 at the age of 70, finally ending the long-standing mystery of the "Orange Sock" killer. The arrest was a major victory for the use of genetic genealogy in cold cases.

The Trial, Conviction, and Final Sentence

The trial of Alan Lee Phillips was a highly emotional and closely watched event in Park County, Colorado. Prosecutors presented a compelling case built on the irrefutable DNA evidence and the circumstances surrounding the 1982 events. The defense attempted to discredit the decades-old evidence and the methods used to identify Phillips, but the jury was ultimately swayed by the forensic findings.

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• Guilty Verdict: On September 16, 2022, a jury found Alan Lee Phillips guilty on all eight counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of robbery. The verdict brought visible relief and tears of joy to the families of Annette Schnee and Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer, who had waited over four decades for justice.
• Sentencing: Phillips was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison, effectively ensuring he would spend the rest of his natural life incarcerated.

The conviction was a powerful affirmation for the families, who spoke movingly about the impact of the murders on their lives. The case serves as a landmark example of how persistent investigation and modern forensic science can overcome the passage of time to deliver justice for victims of violent crime.

The Final Chapter: Alan Lee Phillips' Death in Prison

Just a few months after his sentencing, the final chapter of Alan Lee Phillips' life was written. In early 2023, it was reported that Phillips, then 72, had died in prison.

While the specific cause of death was not immediately detailed, the news confirmed that the convicted killer would not spend a lengthy term in the Colorado prison system. For the families, his death closed the book entirely on the decades-long ordeal, ensuring they would never have to face the possibility of parole or further legal appeals from the man who took their loved ones' lives. The death of Alan Lee Phillips marks the definitive conclusion to the infamous "Orange Sock" murders, a case that will forever be remembered for its chilling nature and the incredible forensic breakthrough that finally brought the killer to justice.