A Connecticut judge has declared a mistrial in the case of Marc Karun, 60, who was on trial for the 1986 murder and kidnapping of 11-year-old Kathleen Flynn. The mistrial was declared after prosecutors revealed that Flynn’s body was placed in a used body bag, raising concerns about evidence contamination.
Flynn was attacked while walking home from Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk on September 23, 1986, and her body was found in nearby woods. Karun, who once lived in Norwalk, was arrested in 2019 at his home in Stetson, Maine.
During the trial, retired Norwalk police lieutenant Robert Fabrizzio disclosed that a state crime lab officer had informed him about the used body bag shortly after Flynn’s death. The officer, 87-year-old Henry Lee, a renowned forensic scientist who worked on the O.J. Simpson case, died last month. Fabrizzio expressed concerns about evidence contamination, prompting Judge John Blawie to declare the mistrial. The charges against Karun were not dismissed.
State Attorney Paul Ferencek expressed disappointment, stating that Flynn’s family has waited 40 years for justice. Prosecutors are now reviewing their next steps.
Background on the Case:
The case went cold for years before Karun’s arrest in 2019. The revelation about the body bag has raised questions about the integrity of the original investigation. The mistrial does not prevent prosecutors from retrying Karun in the future.
Key Figures:
- Marc Karun: Defendant, 60, charged with murder and kidnapping.
- Kathleen Flynn: 11-year-old victim, killed in 1986.
- Robert Fabrizzio: Retired Norwalk police lieutenant who disclosed the body bag evidence.
- Henry Lee: Forensic scientist who worked on the case and died last month.
- Judge John Blawie: Declared the mistrial over evidence concerns.
- Paul Ferencek: State Attorney handling the case.