Cold Case Killer Arrested; Stabbed 18-Year-Old Over 100 Times In 1966: Police

CALUMET CITY, IL — It’s been more than 50 years since 18-year-old Karen Snider was stabbed over 120 times in her south suburban home, but her accused killer wasn't arrested until last week, a development that offered her family the possibility of long-delayed justice, authorities said.

James Barbier, 79, was arrested April 29 at his home in Creve Coeur, Missouri, and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Snider’s Nov. 12, 1966, killing in Calumet City, Chief Kevin Kolosh told reporters at a press conference published in full Monday by WLS.

Detectives reopened the case in 2022 after receiving a call from Kevin Seeley, a distant relative of Snider whose grandmother was haunted by Snider’s killing and who wondered if the modern technology that helped identify California’s Golden State Killer could find Snider’s attacker.

DNA evidence from the scene matched Barbier, according to Kolosh, who said Barbier’s next court date is set for May 21. Barbier was released Thursday on maximum pretrial conditions, CNN reported.

“I’m still on, with my family, a journey to justice,” Snider’s daughter, Paula Larson, told reporters. “It’s not over but we’re closer than we ever were in 57 years.”

Barbier is believed to have killed Snider before returning to his Gary, Indiana, home with visible cuts and blood and putting his clothes in the washing machine, according to CNN, which reported Barbier attended Snider’s funeral with injuries.

Barbier worked with Snider’s husband and was a friend of the couple, CNN reported.

In addition to her many stab wounds, Snider’s face and hands were bruised and she had multiple broken ribs, according to NBC News. Larson, then an infant, was in the home at the time of the killing, but was not hurt, WGN reported.

Larson described her mother as a strong, fun and beautiful person.

“I’m very proud to be her daughter,” she told reporters. “I had to drive past the cemetery the other day and I was alone in the car. I didn’t go into the cemetery yet, but I was alone and I said, out loud, ‘Mom and Dad, we got him.’”