Decades later, forensic breakthrough solves 1966 brutal murder
Karen Snider was brutally murdered in 1966. She died as a result of being stabbed 125 times. Thanks to modern forensic techniques, enough evidence was gathered to identify a suspect. It turned out that the perpetrator was James Barbier, now 79 years old. At the time of this heinous act, he was 22 years old.
7 May 2024 08:32
On 12 November 1966, in the suburbs of Chicago, in Calumet City, a macabre murder took place. Her husband found the body of 18-year-old Karen Snider. Karen had been savagely stabbed no less than 125 times. The young woman's murderer evaded justice for many years. After more than 57 years, he was finally caught.
It took many years before modern forensic methods allowed for isolating DNA traces on the victim's clothing. Now, after many years of waiting, it has finally been achieved. The results of the investigation confirmed the investigators' long-standing suspicions about who was behind this murder.
She waited 57 years for this
It is incredibly shocking that during the brutal attack, the victim's baby daughter was right next to the bed in a crib. When her mother was murdered, she was only two months old.
Although she cannot remember those tragic moments, she has been searching for the truth all her life. Like her late father, she wanted to know exactly what happened in 1966. After more than 57 years of searching for the perpetrator, she can finally breathe.
The police had no evidence to detain him
It turned out that the murderer was a former colleague of the 18-year-old's husband, currently 79-year-old James Barbier. At the time of the crime, he was 22 years old. According to investigators, he snuck into his colleague's apartment when the young woman was there alone with the child.
According to the prosecutor's office, Barbier brutally killed the 18-year-old and fled the scene. For years, he remained unpunished. In 1966, the police did not have the advanced investigative techniques available today.
However, a determined group of investigators, who had not forgotten about this terrible crime, took up the case. Their efforts paid off. Using modern forensic methods, they gathered enough evidence to detain the suspect.
The man pretended to despair over Karen's death. He even helped organize the funeral, carrying her coffin. However, strange injuries were noticed on his hands at the time. The victim's family had pointed to James Barbier as a suspect from the very beginning.
Currently, James Barbier has been conditionally released from custody. He is prohibited from leaving Missouri and Illinois. Moreover, he had to surrender his passport and firearms and commit to personally appearing at the police station twice a month. The 79-year-old awaits trial, which may shed light on what led him to commit such a brutal murder.
