My Favorite Murder — Episode 495: “Colorado Favorites”

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Release Date: August 28, 2025
Theme: A “Colorado quilt episode” featuring two captivating true crime stories from Colorado: the twisted “Love Has Won” cult led by Amy Carlson, and the infamous 1982 cold case murders of Barbara “Bobby” Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee.

Episode Overview

Karen and Georgia share two of their favorite Colorado-based true crime cases—each bizarre, unsettling, and recently in the news. The first story, brought by Karen, details the rise and disturbing end of the “Love Has Won” cult and its leader Amy Carlson. Georgia follows with her haunting account of the decades-cold double murders of Bobby Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee, including the astonishing recent break in the case. The episode’s tone is classic MFM: a mix of humor, empathy, and sharp wit, as the hosts process the darkness and absurdity of these real stories.

Story #1: The Cult of “Love Has Won” and the Death of Amy Carlson

Told by: Karen Kilgariff
Segment begins: [04:37]

Introduction and Sources

Karen recalls encountering the case in “mid-quarantine,” pre-vaccine, when everyone was glued to the news and desperate for answers ([04:37]). Citing comprehensive articles, interviews, and documentaries, Karen credits sources like Marie Claire, Washington Post, Dr. Phil, Vice, BBC News, Denver Post, and others ([05:16]).

Background: The Cult’s Disruption in Kauai

• In August 2020, 11 members of “Love Has Won”—a group believed by many to be a cult—attempted to relocate from Colorado to Kauai, Hawaii.
• The community, already on edge from another cult’s arrival during quarantine, responded with protest, anger, and reported threats to safety, including small fires ([07:53]).
• Police escorted the group back to the airport. Karen:

  "So seriously, there was vandalism, there was several small fires...it was just a huge problem almost from the get go." ([07:53])

The Macabre Discovery in Colorado

• In April 2021, Miguel Lamboy, a group member, reports to Colorado police that others have arrived at his home with the corpse of their leader, Amy Carlson (“Mother God”).
• The body is mummified, wrapped in a sleeping bag, adorned with Christmas lights, glittery makeup, and a shrine ([10:35]).
• Multiple children are present; group charged with abuse of a corpse and child abuse ([10:57]).

Amy Carlson’s Cult Leadership & Beliefs

• Amy Carlson reinvented herself from a Dallas mother to “Mother God,” claiming 500+ reincarnations as Jesus, Joan of Arc, Marilyn Monroe; prophesied her own “ascension” to the fifth dimension:

  “...she claimed to already have been reincarnated 500 times...Right. This is the old joke. No one ever is reincarnated as just the person down the street. It's always Joan of Arc.” ([12:39])

• Tapped into conspiracy and “new age” audiences, especially QAnon circles. Her teachings fused Christianity, astrology, numerology, and more ([21:55]).
• Followers lived communally; daily life was harsh:
  • Forced exhaustion (early rising, little sleep)
  • Severe food restrictions:

    “They're only allowed to get small amounts of food...no snacking is allowed.” ([28:11]) “This is fucking by the book cult brainwashing practices...exhaustion and starvation.” ([28:31])

  • No payment; mandatory donations of any personal money to the group ([28:43]).

Cult Practices and Dangerous Doctrines

• Financially exploitative “spiritual surgeries” booked for $88, promising cures from addiction to cancer ([25:14]).
• Holistic health scams:
  • Sold “plasma coasters,” colloidal silver/gold supplements, claimed to cure COVID-19 ([31:52]).
  • Made dangerous health claims including that staring into the sun was therapeutic ([32:38]).
• The group’s online following grew to 20,000 Facebook fans; videos were frequently viewed and interactive ([26:44]).

Leadership Unravels: Abuse & Decline

• Amy increasingly drank heavily, berated her followers on livestream:

  “...she shouts into the camera, ‘spiritual ego whores die. If you're not connected to me, you're out.’” ([29:45])

• New “Father God” (Jason Castillo) was abusive, escalated control and deprivation.
• Family tried unsuccessfully to reach Amy via an appearance on Dr. Phil ([33:14]).

Amy Carlson’s Death and Aftermath

• Amy’s health deteriorated; followers refused her requests for medical care, citing her own “hijacking” philosophy ([34:48]).
• Her mummified body is found in a state of advanced decay.
• Criminal charges against group members failed to stick; group disbanded but splinter factions continue ([35:43]).
• Former follower “Sarah” reflects:

  “Amy took a lot of spiritual teachings about vibration...but she hijacked them and said they were hers. I still believe there's truth in those principles, but I'm working on taking Amy out of them.” ([37:57])

Karen & Georgia’s Reflections

• “If it’s one leader you’re not allowed to contradict...you’re being indoctrinated” ([40:00])
• “This is fucking by the book cult brainwashing practices...exhaustion and starvation.” ([28:31])
• Chicken parm incident:

  “My vision was chicken parmesan. So the fucking Adams turn around on me and get me meatballs. I didn't say meatballs. I love meatballs. But I didn't fuck say that. Chicken parmesan.” ([30:08])

Story #2: The Cold Case Murders of Bobby Oberholtzer & Annette Schnee

Told by: Georgia Hardstark
Segment begins: [42:38]

*Small Town Setting & Disappearances

• Breckenridge, CO: Historic mining town, now ski resort ([43:20]).
• On Jan 6, 1982, 29-year-old Bobby Oberholtzer (“Bobby”) goes missing after hitchhiking home from a bar ([43:20]).
• Bobby’s husband finds her belongings scattered over miles; her body is discovered 10 miles from her things, showing evidence of an attempted escape and fatal gunshot wounds ([44:24]).
• The same night, 21-year-old Annette Schnee, also hitchhiking, disappears ([47:21]).
• Annette’s body found months later, also shot. Evidence (an orange sock, business card) links the two murders ([47:54]).

*Initial Investigation & Suspects

• Bobby’s husband Jeff instantly becomes a suspect due to circumstantial evidence (Annette had his business card), though he had only picked her up once as a hitchhiker ([48:21]).
• He passes a polygraph and is eventually cleared when male DNA on evidence does not match his ([51:33]).
• Other suspects emerge over the years, but DNA never matches ([53:11]).

The Decades-long Cold Case & Breakthrough

• Retired Denver homicide detective Charlie McCormick moves to Breckenridge, is drawn into the case, and works for Annette’s family at $1/year ([50:17]):

  “He continues to work on the case almost every day for the next three decades... charges $1 a year.” ([50:17])

• With advances in forensic genealogy (2018), a DNA match is finally found after painstaking elimination among 12,000 possibilities ([54:01]).

The Miraculous “SOS” Rescue—And Its Chilling Connection

• On the same night of the murders, Highway patrol/fire chief responds to an unusual emergency:
  • Sheriff on an airplane spots a car in the snow signaling SOS with headlights ([55:07]).
  • The fire chief finds local mechanic Alan Lee Phillips stuck, bruised, and freezing ([57:25]).
  • Phillips claims an accident and is saved—a local news curiosity at the time.

The Killer Unmasked

• In 2021, DNA confirms that Alan Lee Phillips—the very man rescued from the snowdrift—was the murderer who killed both women.

• He was dumping Annette’s body when stranded on the pass; the “miraculous” rescue prevented his freezing but also delayed discovery of his involvement.\

• Fire chief recognizes Phillips from the news, tying together the stories after 40 years ([58:28]).

  “Dave says, ‘We ended up picking up the guy straight out of hell.’” ([58:26])

• Phillips, now 70, is arrested and charged; both victim families speak of long-awaited closure ([60:05]).

  • Annette’s mother:

    “I thought maybe I’d be gone before I had closure in this case... I’m ready to go when it’s my time now.” ([60:44])

• Georgia:

  “That is the craziest, most roundabout...I can't believe I've never heard that, because it just happened.” ([60:46]-[60:56])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the cult’s absurdity:

  “She claimed to already have been reincarnated 500 times...Right. This is the old joke. No one ever is reincarnated as just the person down the street. It's always Joan of Arc.” —Karen ([12:39])

• On exploitation in cults:

  “They're only allowed to get small amounts of food...no snacking is allowed.” —Karen ([28:11])

• Karen, exasperated by cult weirdness:

  “Chicken parmesan. She's just like flipping out...[and] recording it...You would think [you'd] want to hide that behavior.” ([30:08]–[30:37])

• Georgia, on DNA coincidence:

  “So the fact that his wife gets killed on one day and another woman gets killed on the same day and happens to have his fucking business card in her wallet is just a coincidence?” ([51:54])

• Dave Montoya (fire chief) recalling the murderer's rescue:

  “We ended up picking up the guy straight out of hell.” ([58:26])

• On official closure for families:

  “Jeff...praised the arrest, ‘will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare.’” —Georgia quoting Jeff ([60:06])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Explanation: [02:03]–[02:50]
• Love Has Won/Amy Carlson: [04:37]–[40:52]
• Bobby Oberholtzer & Annette Schnee Case: [42:38]–[62:28]

Episode Takeaways

• The two cases capture both the sensational and the deeply human—the cult side and its abuses, and a criminal case solved only through perseverance and new technology four decades later.
• Both stories reflect on the nature of belief, manipulation, desperation, and closure.
• Through it all, Karen and Georgia bring empathy, skepticism, and sly humor—making heavy topics approachable.

Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.