79-year-old charged with murder in 1966 cold case of Illinois mother

CALUMET CITY, Ill. (WGN) — An elderly man has been charged after allegedly stabbing a young mother more than 120 times in Calumet City, Illinois, nearly 60 years ago.

James Barbier, 79, was taken into custody by Calumet City police Monday in Creve Couer, Missouri, which is outside of St. Louis.

He’s accused of entering the home of Karen Snider, 18, late in the night on Nov. 12, 1966.

Officers had to process a brutal scene in the 400 block of Wilson Avenue after Snider sustained 125 stab wounds.

The case became cold and was reexamined again by Calumet City police in December 2022. In the last 16 months, the department said they located and reinterviewed witnesses and analyzed evidence, which identified Barbier as a suspect.

He is charged with first-degree murder. During his detention hearing, prosecutors did not seek pretrial detention — citing his age and medical problems. Barbier will be released Thursday afternoon.

Snider was a new mother and her 2-month-old daughter Paula was nearby in a bassinet during the slaying.

“Had he had more time — or maybe been even more deranged than he actually is — again my opinion — maybe he could have eliminated me as well,” Paula told NewsNation affiliate WGN.

Barbier was a suspect early on in the investigation and was a family friend. He was even a pallbearer at the funeral, and police noticed cuts on his hands during the service, according to WGN.

Now, prosecutors say DNA evidence links him to the killing after investigators reprocessed bloody clothing taken from the scene.

“My family, on my father’s side, had always said ‘this is the man,'” Paula said.

Barbier’s next court hearing is scheduled for May 21.