GUILTY FL - Cherie Morrisette, 11, found murdered, Jacksonville, 2 Dec 1996

Beyond Belief

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HARTFORD, Conn. -- A New Britain man agreed Thursday to return to Florida to face a murder charge after being linked to the decade-old drowning of an 11-year-old girl through a database of DNA taken from convicted sex offenders.

Robert S. Mitchell, 43, of New Britain, was being held on a $5 million bond after being arraigned as a fugitive from justice. He will face first-degree murder and capital sexual battery charges in the death of 11-year-old Cherie Morrisette of Jacksonville, police said.


The sixth-grade girl's fully clothed body was found on Dec. 8, 1996, in the St. John's River, about 10 miles from the Jacksonville apartment she shared with her mother and sister.


Her family initially thought she had run away when she disappeared six days earlier after an argument about cleaning the kitchen.
http://www.wftv.com/news/8064046/detail.html
 
I saw this news account from Hartford, Connecticut about a guy being arrested and charged with the murder of an 11 year old girl in Florida in 1996. What other similar cases might be linked to him? If there are others (and there probably are others) then having a list of others available to police interrogators might be helpful. Any missing children which fit the description, location, time frame, or circumstances might have been victims of this guy.

--------------------------------------------

Sex Offender Arrested in Girl's Death
17 March 2006

Hartford - A database of DNA from convicted sex offenders has linked a Connecticut man to the rape and killing of an 11-year-old girl in Florida almost 10 years ago, police said yesterday.

Robert S. Mitchell, 43, of New Britain was charged Wednesday with being a fugitive from justice and was expected to be extradited to Florida to face charges after a hearing yesterday.

The body of sixth-grader Cherie Morrisette of Jacksonville, Fla. was found Dec. 8, 1996, in the St. John's River about 10 miles from the apartment she shared with her mother and sister.
 
Robert Shelton Mitchell, 43, is being returned to Florida after his arrest Thursday in Connecticut to face charges of first-degree murder and sexual assault in the decade-old death of Cherie Morrisette of Jacksonville. Mitchell was linked to the 1996 case by a national DNA database.

"He confessed to the sexual battery, but he did not admit to the homicide," said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan, a spokesman for the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. "He showed no remorse"...

Two months later, a swab taken from her body came back with the DNA from the attacker, but no one knew who it was. Mulligan said detectives never notified the public that the case had been changed from an accidental death to a homicide...

Authorities in Connecticut and Florida said Thursday that Mitchell had not been previously investigated in connection with the girl's death, and that there is no indication that Cherie or her family knew Mitchell.

http://www.local6.com/news/8084380/detail.html
.......................................
:furious: What a strange story this is .LE said there was no foul play in this little girls death then when they found out she was murdered they never let the public know
.DNA database is doing a great job.I hope the fry the
 
My what a brave one he was at 6' 4" and 260 pounds to be attacking & killing an 11 year old. (Can you hear the sarcasm dripping from every word?)
 
Cherie Morrisette
1985 - 1996
(Body Discovered: December 8, 1996)Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Comments: Eleven-year old Cherie was last seen by her sister when she left home after an argument. At the time, her mother was not at home. Six days later, her body was found about ten miles away floating in the St. Johns River.

Initially her death was ruled accidental as her body was fully clothed and there were no bruises or signs of trauma, but laboratory tests later discovered semen in her panties.

In 2006, 43-year old Robert Shelton Mitchell was arrested in connection with Cherie’s death. His involvement was discovered through a national DNA database. Whilst he has reportedly confessed to raping Cherie, he denies killing her.

LINK:
http://missing.puellula.org/Memoriam/Morrisette.html
 
Does anyone know if a trial was ever held in Florida for Robert Shelton Mitchell? And if so, what were the results of that trial?
 
I wonder if he was checked out for the murder of Jennifer Odom in Feb 1993 murder? Anyone know?
 

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