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Affidavit: DNA links man to 1997 disappearance of Okla. girl, 8

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. -- Authorities in suburban Oklahoma City have arrested a neighbor in the case of a girl who went missing from her bedroom in 1997.

An affidavit released Tuesday by Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes says investigators used DNA to link 56-year-old Anthony Palma to the disappearance and presumed death of 8-year-old Kirsten Hatfield.

Palma was arrested Monday night on first-degree murder and kidnapping complaints.

The affidavit also stated that on May 14, 1997, officers responded to a missing juvenile report at a Midwest City home, who determined that Hatfield had been abducted, according to CBS affiliate KWTV.

Blood was reportedly found on Kirsten's windowsill and her underwear was found in her backyard, but the girl has not been seen since.

Earlier this year, an officer was assigned to follow up on the investigation. Authorities told the station that they found that some of the evidence had never been tested by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

They then decided to re-submit some of the evidence for analysis, as technology has changed since the first days of the investigation. After testing, OSBI reportedly said they located an unknown male's DNA in Hatfield's underwear.

The affidavit says Palma willingly gave a DNA sample in June to investigators. The affidavit says results showed a match of one in 293 sextillion.

According to the affidavit, the evidence shows that the eight-year-old may have been targeted for sexual assault. Police believe that Hatfield was killed shortly after her abduction.

Despite heavy news coverage, advertisements and flyers asking for information -- as well as extensive searches throughout the years -- she or her body was never found.

Court records don't list an attorney for Palma, who is being held without bond.

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