In a chilling turn of events, the murder of Karen Snider, which took place nearly 60 years ago, has finally been solved thanks to a random phone call. The case, which has haunted the small community of Calumet City, Illinois, since November 12, 1966, has captivated true crime enthusiasts and local residents alike as new evidence has emerged, culminating in charges against a suspect.
On that fateful night, Paul Snyder returned home from his shift at the local railroad to discover a horrific scene. His 18-year-old wife, Karen, had been brutally murdered, stabbed 125 times, while their two-month-old daughter, Paula, slept peacefully in the next room. The gruesome nature of the crime led investigators to believe it was staged to resemble a break-in, with evidence suggesting a struggle took place inside the house. A broken window in the basement, blood smears throughout the home, and a ripped phone cord painted a picture of chaos.
Initial suspicion fell on Paul Snyder, but his alibi, corroborated by his workplace, and the fact that his blood type did not match the evidence cleared him. Investigators then turned their attention to a young man known to both the Snyders, who had shown up at a hospital that night with a cut on his hand, claiming he had tripped while drinking. This individual had the same blood type as that found at the murder scene, yet without conclusive DNA evidence, the case remained cold.
As the decades passed, the memory of Karen’s murder lingered in the community, but it wasn’t until 2022 that a phone call would reignite interest in the case. A local man, intrigued by stories his grandmother told about the murder, reached out to law enforcement seeking updates. This inquiry prompted detectives to revisit the evidence that had been preserved over the years.
Utilizing modern DNA testing techniques, investigators sent items from the crime scene for analysis, including a bed sheet and clothing. In a breakthrough moment, the DNA matched that of James Barbier, a 79-year-old man who had been a close acquaintance of the Snyders and even served as a pallbearer at Karen’s funeral. Reports indicate that Barbier returned home on the night of the murder with noticeable cuts on his hands and blood on his clothes, raising further suspicion.
Despite the violent nature of the crime, prosecutors made the controversial decision to release Barbier on bail, citing his age and medical conditions as justifications. This decision has raised eyebrows, given the brutality of the attack. As the case prepares to move to trial, the community is left grappling with the long-delayed pursuit of justice for Karen Snider.
With charges now filed against James Barbier, the trial promises to shed light on a murder that has remained a dark chapter in Calumet City’s history for nearly six decades. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public and the family of Karen Snider await answers, hoping for closure in a case that has haunted them for far too long.
