Murder Mystery Solved? Missouri Man Arrested for Over 120 Stab Wounds in 1966 Killing

A 79-year-old Missouri man who previously lived in Indiana has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing a lady over 120 times over six decades ago, according to authorities.

Karen Snider, 18, was discovered dead by her husband on the evening of November 12, 1966, when he came from work to their house in Calumet City, Illinois, some 23 miles from Chicago. She suffered 125 stab wounds throughout her body, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Illinois.

Nearly a week ago, more than 57 years later, James Barbier was arrested for Snider’s murder.

Barbier was arrested in 1966 but not charged, and the case remained unresolved for years until it was revisited in December 2022. Barbier was identified as a suspect in the case based on a DNA sample, and he was detained on Monday at his Missouri residence, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

According to officials, Snider had bruises on top of his stab wounds.

Barbier, who resided in Gary, Indiana at the time, worked with Snider’s husband, according to the state’s attorney’s office, and was acquainted with them.

According to the state attorney’s office, Barbier returned home the night of the murder and his wife discovered cuts and blood on him. He “appeared nervous” and promptly removed his clothing and placed them in the washing machine, according to prosecutors.

At Snider’s funeral, Barbier was still covered in cuts.

Barbier was released on Thursday under maximum pretrial restrictions, according to the state attorney’s office.

Barbier was ordered not to leave Missouri or Illinois, to relinquish his passport and firearms, and to report in person and by phone twice a month, the state’s attorney’s office told CNN in an email.

“Although the charge is detention eligible, based on the age of the defendant, his physical infirmity, and recent case law on this pointed issue concerning the Pretrial Fairness Act and of posing a real and present threat,’ the State is not filing a petition to detain,” the state attorney’s office said in a statement. As of Friday, CNN has not to determine whether Barbier had obtained legal counsel.

Calumet City is located near the Illinois-Indiana border, approximately 13 miles from Gary.

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