{"id":44745,"date":"2026-04-08T12:10:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=44745"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:10:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:10:04","slug":"judge-declares-mistrial-in-1986-girls-murder-over-body-bag-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=44745","title":{"rendered":"Judge declares mistrial in 1986 girl’s murder over body bag claim"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A Connecticut judge<\/a> has declared a mistrial in the case involving an 11-year-old girl who was raped and killed over a revelation involving decades-old evidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marc Karun, 60, was on trial on murder and kidnapping charges stemming from the alleged killing of Kathleen Flynn, according to<\/u><\/a> FOX 61.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flynn, a sixth grader, was reportedly walking home from Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk when she was attacked on Sept. 23, 1986. Her body was found in the woods along a path to nearby Hunters Lane.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

REALTOR’S COLD CASE MURDER FINALLY SOLVED AFTER 15 YEARS, POLICE SAY<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Eleven-year-old Kathleen Flynn was kidnapped while walking home from school in Norwalk, Conn., on Sept. 23, 1986. Her body was later found in the woods near Hunters Lane.<\/span> (Norwalk Department of Police Services)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While the case ran cold for a period of time, Karun was taken into custody at his home in Stetson, Maine<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n

During Karun\u2019s trial in Stamford last week, prosecutors revealed that they received an email from retired Norwalk police lieutenant Robert Fabrizzio disclosing that shortly after Flynn\u2019s body was discovered, a state crime lab officer informed him that she had been disposed of in a used body bag, FOX 61 reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fabrizzio reportedly informed prosecutors that he was concerned about the possibility of evidence contamination in the case, leading Judge John Blawie to declare a mistrial \u2013 though he did not dismiss the charges against Karun.<\/p>\n

DAUGHTERS\u2019 RELENTLESS SEARCH SHATTERS \u2018OVERDOSE\u2019 CLAIM, LEADS TO ARREST IN MOM\u2019S 1992 MURDER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Marc Karun, 60, was on trial on murder and kidnapping charges stemming from the alleged killing of Kathleen Flynn in 1986, according to FOX 61.<\/span> (Norwalk Department of Police Services)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The state crime lab officer who made the revelation about the body bag was 87-year-old Henry Lee, a famous forensic scientist who previously worked on the O.J. Simpson murder trial<\/a> and worked as the head of the lab at the time, according to FOX 61.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lee died last month.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re obviously disappointed by this turn of events, especially for the family members of Kathy Flynn, who have waited 40 years for justice and some degree of closure,” State Attorney Paul Ferencek said in a statement, FOX 61 reported.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

YALE PROFESSOR\u2019S FATHER CHARGED IN MOTHER\u2019S DECADES-OLD MURDER, SAYS HE \u2018USED ME AS BAIT\u2019: REPORT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Kathleen Flynn was kidnapped while walking home from Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut on Sept. 23, 1986.<\/span> (Google Maps)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Prosecutors are now working with the medical examiner\u2019s office and state crime lab to verify if the revelation is true.<\/p>\n

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The information surrounding the body bag was reportedly a surprise to crime lab officials<\/a>, agency spokesperson Rick Green said.<\/p>\n

“This is all a surprise to us. We stand by our testimony in the case,” Green said in a statement to Fox News Digital, adding the agency has no further comment.<\/p>\n

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Karun previously served 10 years behind bars after being convicted of sexually assaulting or kidnapping four other female victims throughout the 1980s, FOX 61 reported.<\/p>\n

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DNA testing technology advancements<\/a> and the case\u2019s similarities to Karun\u2019s other attacks reportedly lead investigators to take him into custody in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Shortly after Karun\u2019s arrest, police found nearly 90 guns inside his Maine home, which he was barred from owning as a convicted felon, according to FOX 61.<\/p>\n

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In 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal gun charges stemming from the allegations and is set to be sentenced this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Karun remains in custody on a $5 million bond.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office and Karun’s defense counsel did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.<\/p>\n

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Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Writer for Fox News Digital and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13<\/a> on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n