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

[beebalm28]

His adopted parents are very well off, and he has a trust fund. The new trial date is September, I'm sorry I don't remember the exact day. Will update later.

 

[Betty P]

His adopted parents are very well off, and he has a trust fund. The new trial date is September, I'm sorry I don't remember the exact day. Will update later.

That’s what I remembered, too. Are they still living? They wouldn’t need to be if it’s a trust fund. IIRC the dad was a retired corporate executive or similar.

 

[Niner]

This sure doesn't make sense....

Mistrial declared as email throws case against accused killer into chaos

The judge said he believed he had no choice but to declare a mistrial

www.independent.co.uk

Judge John Blawie declared a mistrial on Monday because of concerns over the evidence, saying he believed he had no choice. But he said he would not dismiss the case.


Either he dismissed the case or he didn't... I'm guessing he will make a written ruling on this Motion to Dismiss - and since it "might" be double hearsay - the motion WILL get dismissed & trial continues. Let's hope so!

Here's a good article & next hearing date.

Mistrial declared in 1986 murder of 11-year-old Norwalk girl over evidence contamination claim

On Monday, Karun’s attorney Frank O’Reilly made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that the defense was in an “irreparable position,” and the allegation called into question potential police misconduct and mishandling of evidence central to the case.

connecticut.news12.com

April 6, 2026
....On Monday, Karun’s attorney Frank O’Reilly made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that the defense was in an “irreparable position,” and the allegation called into question potential police misconduct and mishandling of evidence central to the case. O’Reilly said his team would have to reopen their investigation into the case and interview Fabrizzio, who is now 84 and living in Alaska. O’Reilly also noted that he wouldn’t be able to interview Lee. The famed forensic examiner died on March 27.
“The court has no choice but to declare a mistrial,” O’Reilly said.
Ferencek opposed the motion, stating there’s no reason to believe this is reliable information.
“There’s not one scintilla of evidence that supports that,” Ferencek countered.
Furthermore, he said the evidence wouldn’t be admissible at trial because it’s what’s called double hearsay. Fabrizzio said he got the information from Lee, but according to Ferencek, Lee likely wasn’t at the crime scene, which means he would’ve been told the information by someone else.
But Blawie ruled that because DNA is at the heart of this case, he had to grant a mistrial to give Karun's legal team time to investigate the allegation. Blawie was adamant there were no grounds to dismiss the charges against Karun and said he’d like to see a retrial date sooner rather than later. A status conference was set for Sept. 1.

 

[Niner]

Here's my updated notes:

Monday, April 6th:
*Trial continues (Day 5)-Mistrial Granted! (@ 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 [was thru 4/20/26]. Judge Blawie declares a mistrial on 4/6/26.
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 1-4 (3/30-4/2/26) reference post #455 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...dge-23-sep-1986-arrest-in-2019.227077/page-23
4/6/26 Monday, Trial Day x: Judge John Blawie has granted a mistrial after it was revealed last week that the slain child may have been placed in a used body bag. Attorney Francis O’Reilly, who represents Karun, said the defense was in an “irreparable position” after a retired police lieutenant emailed prosecutors that Kathleen’s body had been placed in a possibly contaminated bag. State’s Attorney Paul Ferencek said the retired lieutenant claimed to have received the information from Dr. Henry Lee, and said it was very unlikely Lee was at the scene. He called the information “unreliable,” though O’Reilly said his team still needed to investigate the claim. O'Reilly said his team would also not be able to question Lee, who died last month.
4/7/26 Update: On Monday, Karun’s attorney Frank O’Reilly made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that the defense was in an “irreparable position,” and the allegation called into question potential police misconduct & mishandling of evidence central to the case. O’Reilly said his team would have to reopen their investigation into the case & interview Fabrizzio, who is now 84 & living in Alaska. O’Reilly also noted that he wouldn’t be able to interview Lee. The famed forensic examiner died on March 27. “The court has no choice but to declare a mistrial,” O’Reilly said. DA Ferencek opposed the motion, stating there’s no reason to believe this is reliable information. “There’s not one scintilla of evidence that supports that,” Ferencek countered. Furthermore, he said the evidence wouldn’t be admissible at trial because it’s what’s called double hearsay. Fabrizzio said he got the information from Lee, but according to Ferencek, Lee likely wasn’t at the crime scene, which means he would’ve been told the information by someone else. But Blawie ruled that because DNA is at the heart of this case, he had to grant a mistrial to give Karun's legal team time to investigate the allegation. Blawie was adamant there were no grounds to dismiss the charges against Karun & said he’d like to see a retrial date sooner rather than later. A status conference was set for 9/1/26. [Retired Lt. Robert Fabrizzio said back then that he got a call from Dr. Henry Lee, who headed up the state crime lab, claiming Kathy's body had been placed in a used body bag by the state medical examiner & Lee was concerned about possible evidence contamination].

 

[tlcya]

This sure doesn't make sense....

Mistrial declared as email throws case against accused killer into chaos

The judge said he believed he had no choice but to declare a mistrial

www.independent.co.uk

Judge John Blawie declared a mistrial on Monday because of concerns over the evidence, saying he believed he had no choice. But he said he would not dismiss the case.


Either he dismissed the case or he didn't... I'm guessing he will make a written ruling on this Motion to Dismiss - and since it "might" be double hearsay - the motion WILL get dismissed & trial continues. Let's hope so!

Here's a good article & next hearing date.

Mistrial declared in 1986 murder of 11-year-old Norwalk girl over evidence contamination claim

On Monday, Karun’s attorney Frank O’Reilly made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that the defense was in an “irreparable position,” and the allegation called into question potential police misconduct and mishandling of evidence central to the case.

connecticut.news12.com

April 6, 2026
....On Monday, Karun’s attorney Frank O’Reilly made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that the defense was in an “irreparable position,” and the allegation called into question potential police misconduct and mishandling of evidence central to the case. O’Reilly said his team would have to reopen their investigation into the case and interview Fabrizzio, who is now 84 and living in Alaska. O’Reilly also noted that he wouldn’t be able to interview Lee. The famed forensic examiner died on March 27.
“The court has no choice but to declare a mistrial,” O’Reilly said.
Ferencek opposed the motion, stating there’s no reason to believe this is reliable information.
“There’s not one scintilla of evidence that supports that,” Ferencek countered.
Furthermore, he said the evidence wouldn’t be admissible at trial because it’s what’s called double hearsay. Fabrizzio said he got the information from Lee, but according to Ferencek, Lee likely wasn’t at the crime scene, which means he would’ve been told the information by someone else.
But Blawie ruled that because DNA is at the heart of this case, he had to grant a mistrial to give Karun's legal team time to investigate the allegation. Blawie was adamant there were no grounds to dismiss the charges against Karun and said he’d like to see a retrial date sooner rather than later. A status conference was set for Sept. 1.

awe man that is one heck of a setback. Praying justice delayed is not justice denied for Kathleen

 

[beebalm28]

That’s what I remembered, too. Are they still living? They wouldn’t need to be if it’s a trust fund. IIRC the dad was a retired corporate executive or similar.

His father passed in 2022 but mother is still alive in her 90's. His dad was high up at Caldor Co. There was a trust fund established before he passed.