Mistrial Declared in Maine Man's Murder Trial

Concerns over potential evidence contamination lead judge to call a mistrial in the 1986 killing of a Connecticut girl.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:04am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a torn, discolored piece of fabric, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the fragility and uncertainty of decades-old forensic evidence in a cold case investigation.Decades-old forensic evidence in a high-profile cold case raises new questions about the integrity of the investigation.Norwalk Today

A judge has declared a mistrial in the case against Marc Karun, a Maine man charged with the 1986 rape and murder of 11-year-old Kathleen Flynn in Norwalk, Connecticut. The mistrial was declared due to concerns over potential evidence contamination, including an allegation that the victim's body was placed in a used body bag at the time of the crime.

Why it matters

The case has remained unsolved for over 40 years, and the mistrial is a significant setback for prosecutors seeking justice for the victim's family. The allegations of evidence mishandling raise concerns about the integrity of the investigation and could complicate any future retrial.

The details

Karun, now 60, was arrested in 2019 and put on trial for Flynn's murder and kidnapping. During the trial, prosecutors revealed that a retired Norwalk police lieutenant claimed a state crime lab official told him shortly after the killing that Flynn's body had been placed in a used body bag, potentially contaminating evidence. The judge declared a mistrial due to these concerns, though he said he would not dismiss the case.

  • Kathleen Flynn was killed on September 23, 1986.
  • Karun was arrested at his home in Stetson, Maine in 2019.
  • Karun's trial began in Stamford, Connecticut in April 2026.
  • The mistrial was declared on April 7, 2026.

The players

Marc Karun

A 60-year-old Maine man charged with the 1986 rape and murder of Kathleen Flynn in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Kathleen Flynn

An 11-year-old girl who was raped and killed in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1986.

Robert Fabrizzio

A retired Norwalk police lieutenant who claimed a state crime lab official told him shortly after the killing that Flynn's body had been placed in a used body bag.

Henry Lee

A famed forensic scientist who headed the state crime lab at the time of Flynn's killing, and who the retired lieutenant said told him about the used body bag.

Judge John Blawie

The judge who declared a mistrial in the case due to concerns over potential evidence contamination.

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What they’re saying

“We're obviously disappointed by this turn of events, especially for the family members of Kathy Flynn, who have waited forty years for justice and some degree of closure.”

— Paul Ferencek, State's Attorney

“Forensic scientists from the lab stand by their trial testimony.”

— Rick Green, Spokesman for the state crime lab and agency that oversees it

What’s next

Prosecutors will be working with the state crime lab and medical examiner's office to investigate the claim about the used body bag and determine if it is true. The judge said he would not dismiss the case, leaving open the possibility of a retrial in the future.

The takeaway

This mistrial highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old cold cases, where the integrity of evidence can be called into question. The allegations of mishandling raise serious concerns and could significantly impact any future attempts to bring the suspect to justice for the victim's family.