Portsmouth man charged with murder in 1993 Kittery cold case

Police in Maine have arrested a man in connection with a decades-old homicide, crediting advances in DNA technology with finally moving the case forward.

Daniel Jolly was taken into custody in connection with the killing of Maxine Bitomski, according to police. Investigators say genetic evidence that was unavailable or unreliable at the time of the original investigation played a central role in identifying Jolly as a suspect.

The arrest brings new momentum to a case that had gone unsolved for years, a reminder of how rapidly forensic science has evolved and how cold cases across the country are being revisited with tools that simply did not exist when the crimes were first investigated.

Police have not yet released additional details about the evidence linking Jolly to the killing, the specific DNA methods used, or the timeline of when the recent break in the case occurred. It is also unclear whether Jolly has entered a plea or been formally charged in court.

Bitomski's slaying has long lingered as an open wound in the community, the kind of unresolved case that leaves families waiting and investigators unable to close the books. The announcement of an arrest suggests that wait may finally be drawing to a close.

Law enforcement officials are expected to share more information as the case moves through the courts. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact local police.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.