Brittany Phillips
Tulsa's Unsolved DNA Cold Case
More than twenty years after her murder, the case of Brittany Phillips remains one of Oklahoma's most frustrating unsolved homicides. Brittany was an 18 year old college student whose life was cut short in September 2004 when she was sexually assaulted and strangled inside her Tulsa apartment. Despite DNA evidence, hundreds of interviews, and years of investigation, no one has ever been arrested for her murder.
WHO WAS BRITTANY PHILIPS?
Brittany E.S. Phillips was an 18 year old student attending Tulsa Community College. Friends and family described her as intelligent, ambitious, and focused on her education. She was studying chemistry and hoped to continue her academic career. Just days before her nineteenth birthday, Brittany returned home after dealing with health issues related to allergies and a sinus infection.
LAST KNOWN TIMELINE
On September 27, 2004, Brittany spent time with a friend at Tulsa Community College. Later that evening, she dropped her friend off at approximately 9:55 p.m. and returned to her apartment near East 65th Street in Tulsa. That was the last confirmed sighting of her alive.
When Brittany failed to attend classes and friends could not reach her, concern began to grow. On September 30, 2004, friends requested a welfare check. Officers entered her apartment and made a devastating discovery. Brittany was found dead inside her bedroom apartment.
THE CRIME SCENE
Investigators determined that Brittany had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Evidence suggested a struggle had occurred. Police reported there were no obvious signs of forced entry, leading investigators to consider several possibilities, including whether the killer knew Brittany, gained entry through deception, or entered while she was asleep.
DNA evidence was collected from the scene, giving investigators hope that the case could eventually be solved through forensic advances.
THE INVESTIGATION
Over the years, Tulsa Police have investigated hundreds of leads. Detectives reviewed more than 270 individuals who either lived near Brittany's apartment complex or had histories involving sexual offenses, stalking, peeping, or violence against women.
In 2019, DNA analysis identified a potential suspect. However, further investigation ultimately eliminated that individual. Despite this setback, authorities have maintained that the DNA evidence remains one of the strongest avenues toward solving the case.
The Tulsa Police Department continues to classify Brittany's murder as an active cold case.
THE ROLE OF DNA &
GENETIC GENEALOGY
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the possibility of using advanced DNA technology and genetic genealogy. Similar techniques have solved numerous cold cases across the country, including cases that remained unsolved for decades.
Brittany's mother, Maggie Zingman, has repeatedly advocated for the use of every available forensic tool to identify the person responsible for her daughter's murder. She believes that DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene may eventually reveal the killer's identity.
A MOTHER'S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
Few family members have become as closely associated with a cold case as Brittany's mother, Maggie Zingman. For nearly two decades, she has traveled across the United States in what she calls the "Caravan to Catch a Killer," raising awareness about Brittany's case and distributing information in hopes that someone will come forward with new evidence. Her efforts have generated national media attention and numerous tips.
In 2023, a previously overlooked birthday card mailed by Brittany shortly before her death resurfaced. The postmark raised questions about the established timeline of the crime and became another piece of evidence investigators began examining. While its significance remains unclear, it has generated renewed interest in the case.
QUESTION'S THAT REMAIN
More than twenty years later, several critical questions remain unanswered:
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Who entered Brittany's apartment on the night she was killed?
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Did Brittany know her attacker?
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Why was there no obvious sign of forced entry?
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Can modern DNA technology finally identify the killer?
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Does the newly examined birthday card change the timeline of events?
CURRENT STATUS
As of 2026, no arrests have been made in the murder of Brittany Phillips. The case remains open with the Tulsa Police Department, and investigators continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward. DNA evidence remains central to the investigation and offers hope that advances in forensic science may eventually provide answers.
For many Oklahomans, Brittany's case represents both the promise and frustration of modern forensic investigations. The evidence exists. The questions remain. And a family continues to wait for justice.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Brittany Phillips is encouraged to contact the Tulsa Police Department Cold Case Unit at 918-596-9135 or Crime Stoppers.