A man from Maine is standing trial in connection with the alleged 1986 murder of 11-year-old Kathleen Flynn. He faces charges related to her kidnapping and sexual assault, which occurred nearly four decades ago.

The Disappearance and Discovery of Kathleen Flynn

Kathleen Flynn was reported missing by her mother on September 23, 1986, after she failed to arrive home from school. Authorities discovered her body the following day in a wooded area behind Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut.

An autopsy later confirmed that Kathleen had been strangled and sexually assaulted, according to a previous announcement from the Norwalk Police Department regarding the cold case arrest.

Arrest and Formal Charges

Marc Karun of Maine was arrested in June 2019 in connection with Kathleen’s death. Karun was 21 years old when the alleged crimes took place. He appeared in court on Monday, March 30, to begin his trial.

The charges against Karun include murder, murder with special circumstances, and first-degree kidnapping. His defense attorney is Frank O’Reilly.

Testimony Begins at Trial

The Mother's Account

Esther Marie Flynn, Kathleen’s mother, was the first witness to testify in the courtroom. She recounted her plans to take her daughter shopping for a purse after school on the day she vanished.

Esther, who taught high school math in 1986, stated that she usually met Kathleen at an intersection near the middle school after classes ended. However, Kathleen never appeared at their designated meeting spot on September 23, 1986.

Evidence from Investigators

Retired detective Michael Bauer testified that he located Kathleen’s body concealed beneath a “mound of brush that didn't seem natural” in the woods near the school. This testimony was reported by News 12 Connecticut.

Another retired detective, Stephen Tyska, informed the jury that visible “ligature marks” were present around the victim’s wrists and neck. The trial is anticipated to last approximately three weeks, according to a judge.

Prior Incidents Involving the Accused

Authorities noted that at the time of the 1986 incident, Karun resided less than two miles from Kathleen’s middle school. A few months before Kathleen’s remains were found, Karun faced charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the Norwalk woods.

The newspaper reported that Karun served a few months in prison after those initial charges were reduced. Court filings later indicated that Karun was also accused of two additional sexual assaults that occurred between 1986 and 1988.