CT - Kathleen Marie "Kathy" Flynn, 11, murdered, Ponus Ridge, 23 September 1986 *arrest in 2019*

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 31st:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9am ET) – CT – Kathleen Marie Flynn (11) (missing on Sept. 23, 1986, Ponus Ridge, Norwalk, found Sept. 24, 1986 in the woods behind Ponus Ridge Middle School) - *Marc J. Karun (21 @ time of crime/53/now 60) – arrested (6/12/19 for a fugitive from justice warrant in Stetson, ME), charged (6/14/19) & arraigned (8/12/19) with capital murder with special circumstance, 1st degree kidnapping & sexual assault. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. Stamford Superior Court
DNA Match; Karun faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
*Was in federal custody in his home state of Maine U.S. District Court where he is accused of illegally storing an arsenal of firearms (60 weapons & 15K rounds of ammunition); in total, Karun owned 34 pistols, 14 rifles, 11 revolvers & one 12-gauge shotgun. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to the federal gun charges, which allowed the homicide case to move forward.
Murder trial for jury selection began on 2/26/26 & [guessing] ended on 3/27/26. Jury consists of 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
Trial began on 3/30/26 [thru 4/20/26].
Superior Court Judge John Blawie. Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdes. Defense attorney Lawrence O’Reilly.
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 2/5/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-23 (2/25-3/27/26) reference post #436 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...dge-23-sep-1986-arrest-in-2019.227077/page-22
3/30/26 Monday, Trial Day 1: Opening statements Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk Paul J. Ferencek & defense attorney Frank O’Reilly.
State witnesses: Esther Marie Flynn [Kathleen’s mother]. Former Officer Thomas Noonan [who retired in 2011, said he was first assigned to search a nearby construction site & later went to the middle school to look in the woods]. Former Officer Joseph Kubik [He recalled that he responded to the location of the bookbag with his K-9 Rex, who sniffed the bag and started trying to track the scent]. Retired Detective Michael Bauer [was the one who found Kathy's body]. Retired Detective Stephen Tyska. Former Detective James Belmont [interviewed Karun as a potential suspect & being unable to corroborate his story about where he was on Sept. 23, 1986]. Trial continues on Tuesday, 3/31/26 @ 9am.

 

[Niner]

Here's another article on yesterday's trial.

Trial begins in 1986 killing of Norwalk girl strangled while walking home from school

The case remained cold for decades until advancements in DNA technology led police to arrest Marc Karun in 2019.

westchester.news12.com

 

[sds71]

Marissa Alter​

EVIDENCE IN KATHY FLYNN CASE:

Though cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, exhibits shown to the jury are public. That includes photos, reports, ect. Below are some of the photos witnesses testified about yesterday, the first day of the trial against former Norwalk resident Marc Karun, now 60. They include the paved path 11-year-old Kathy Flynn took to walk home from Ponus Ridge Middle School, including on Sept. 23, 1986, when she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed. Her body was found in the woods about 100 feet from the path covered by logs, branches, leaves, rocks and other debris. Retired officers testified about the search for Kathy and the evidence they located in the woods before her body was discovered. That included her school bag, denim jacket, sneakers and socks. An officer also told the jury that a couple weeks later, he found Kathy’s paisley pants under a large rock about 92 feet from where her body was discovered in the early morning hours of Sept. 24, 1986.

https://www.facebook.com/MarissaAlterReporter/posts/pfbid02hb12QxfuJVU7xvSa8SxiViDXkddYXm4xRJyxBwdF7qU7UcUZse5drKGgsFeBQF7Yl

 

[Niner]

Day 2:

Jury sees autopsy photos, hears testimony about how Norwalk girl killed in 1986 was bound, strangled

On the second day of Marc Karun's murder trial for a 1986 crime, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Maura DeJoseph testified that 11-year-old Kathy died due to ligature strangulation with the manner of death being homicide.

connecticut.news12.com

March 31, 2026

The jury in the trial of a former Norwalk resident accused of sexually assaulting and killing an 11-year-old girl nearly 40 years ago saw autopsy photos showing red ligature marks on the child’s neck and wrists.

It happened Tuesday at Stamford Superior Court during the second day of evidence against Marc Karun, now 60 years old. Karun is charged with murder, murder with special circumstances and kidnapping in the death of Kathy Flynn, a sixth grader at Ponus Ridge Middle School, who was killed while walking home Sept. 23, 1986.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Maura DeJoseph took the stand and testified that Kathy died due to ligature strangulation with the manner of death being homicide. DeJoseph told the jury Kathy also had blunt impact injuries to her head and neck, and the marks on the girl's wrists were consistent with someone being bound.
[.....]
The next witness called by the state was Elaine Pagliaro, a forensic consultant who worked at the state police forensic lab at the time of Kathy’s death. That’s where fingernail scrapings and loose hair collected from the girl's body went. Police also later sent hair samples from Karun to the lab. Pagliaro testified about advancements in DNA testing over the years. She noted that in 1986, the state lab could note patterns, determine the nature of a stain and do blood-typing of a sample. But she said the lab could not process DNA.
[.....]
A jury of 12, plus five alternates, was selected for the trial, which is expected to wrap the week of April 13. If convicted, Karun could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.


Now I am wondering - 4 alternates or 5?? I changed my notes to 5.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, April 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am ET) – CT – Kathleen Marie Flynn (11) (missing on Sept. 23, 1986, Ponus Ridge, Norwalk, found Sept. 24, 1986 in the woods behind Ponus Ridge Middle School) - *Marc J. Karun (21 @ time of crime/53/now 60) – arrested (6/12/19 for a fugitive from justice warrant in Stetson, ME), charged (6/14/19) & arraigned (8/12/19) with capital murder with special circumstance, 1st degree kidnapping & sexual assault. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. Stamford Superior Court
DNA Match; Karun faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Murder trial for jury selection began on 2/26/26 & [guessing] ended on 3/27/26. Jury consists of 12 jurors & 5 alternates.
Trial began on 3/30/26 [thru 4/20/26].
Superior Court Judge John Blawie. Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdes. Defense attorney Lawrence O’Reilly.
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 2/5/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-23 (2/25-3/27/26) r& Trial Day 1 (3/30/26) reference post #442 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...dge-23-sep-1986-arrest-in-2019.227077/page-23
3/31/26 Tuesday, Trial Day 2: State witnesses: Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Maura DeJoseph. Elaine Pagliaro [a forensic consultant who worked at the state police forensic lab at the time of Kathy’s death. That’s where fingernail scrapings & loose hair collected from the girl's body went]. Trial continues on Wednesday, 4/1/26 @ 9am.

 

[sds71]

Norwalk officer credited with arrest in 1986 killing of 11-year-old girl testifes at accused killer's trial

Lt. Art Weisgerber told the jury that when he was assigned to the investigation, he began by reviewing over 2,000 documents, such as police reports and interviews with about 175 people, including potential suspects.

connecticut.news12.com

 

[Niner]

Thursday, April 2nd:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am ET) – CT – Kathleen Marie Flynn (11) (missing on Sept. 23, 1986, Ponus Ridge, Norwalk, found Sept. 24, 1986 in the woods behind Ponus Ridge Middle School) - *Marc J. Karun (21 @ time of crime/53/now 60) – arrested (6/12/19 for a fugitive from justice warrant in Stetson, ME), charged (6/14/19) & arraigned (8/12/19) with capital murder with special circumstance, 1st degree kidnapping & sexual assault. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. Stamford Superior Court
DNA Match; Karun faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Murder trial for jury selection began on 2/26/26 & [guessing] ended on 3/27/26. Jury consists of 12 jurors & 5 alternates.
Trial began on 3/30/26 [thru 4/20/26].
Superior Court Judge John Blawie. Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdez. Defense attorney Lawrence O’Reilly.
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 2/5/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-23 (2/25-3/27/26) & Trial Days 1-2 (3/30-31/26) reference post #445 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...dge-23-sep-1986-arrest-in-2019.227077/page-23
4/1/26 Wednesday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: Lt. Art Weisgerber [took over the case in 2002]. Forensic examiner Jessica Manges [took the jury through the results of specific testing done at Mitotyping Technologies in 2003]. Trial continues on Thursday, 4/2/26 @ 9am.

 

[Betty P]

Trial in 1986 Norwalk murder of 11-year-old Kathleen Flynn to resume Thursday

Kathleen, who went by Kathy, was reported missing on Sept. 23, 1986. Her body was found early the next morning.

www.thehour.com

 

[Niner]

Could not access the above article - so found this one. I need to unblock my ad thingy. Not going to do that!

Day 4

DNA expert testifies in 1986 Norwalk murder as email suggests possible evidence contamination

A DNA expert from the state lab told the jury that tests on fingernail scrapings from Kathy Flynn were several thousand times more likely to have come from Kathy and the defendant than her and unknown individual.

connecticut.news12.com

Did not know that Dr. Henry Lee died last week.

 

[Niner]

Friday, April 3rd:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9am ET) – CT – Kathleen Marie Flynn (11) (missing on Sept. 23, 1986, Ponus Ridge, Norwalk, found Sept. 24, 1986 in the woods behind Ponus Ridge Middle School) - *Marc J. Karun (21 @ time of crime/53/now 60) – arrested (6/12/19 for a fugitive from justice warrant in Stetson, ME), charged (6/14/19) & arraigned (8/12/19) with capital murder with special circumstance, 1st degree kidnapping & sexual assault. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. Stamford Superior Court
DNA Match; Karun faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Murder trial for jury selection began on 2/26/26 & [guessing] ended on 3/27/26. Jury consists of 12 jurors & 5 alternates.
Trial began on 3/30/26 [thru 4/20/26].
Superior Court Judge John Blawie. Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdez. Defense attorney Lawrence O’Reilly.
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 2/5/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-23 (2/25-3/27/26) & Trial Days 1-3 (3/30-4/1/26) reference post #447 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...dge-23-sep-1986-arrest-in-2019.227077/page-23
4/2/26 Thursday, Trial Day 4: State witness: DNA expert Melanie Russell from the state lab. Trial continues on Friday, 4/3/26 @ 9am.

 

[beebalm28]

I really hope the idea of possible contamination from a used body bag doesn't sway the jury. Interesting how this comes up now that Dr. Lee is no longer available.

 

[Niner]

Unfortunately not finding any articles on Day 5 - anyone?? TIA if you can find something!

 

[beebalm28]

Our Judicial Branch is closed on Good Friday. Trial resumes Monday 4/6.