Arrest Made in 26-Year-Old Murders of Girl, Her Babysitter

A southwest Florida man has been charged with raping and killing an 11-year-old girl and her babysitter 26 years ago, the AP reports. The Cape Coral Daily Breeze reported Wednesday that Cape Police Chief David Newlan says detectives learned last week that a recent arrestee at the Lee County Jail matched DNA from the old crime scene. State officials confirmed the evidence matches 54-year-old Joseph Zieler. Authorities say the bodies of 11-year-old Robin Cornell and 32-year-old Lisa Story were found in a Cape Coral apartment in May 1990. Robin's mother had been out for the night and discovered the suffocated bodies when she returned the next morning. Investigators didn't immediately know of any prior connection between Zieler and the victims.

The victims had both been sexually assaulted, authorities say. The little girl was found, naked, on her bedroom floor; her babysitter was found in bed. The case has been featured on America's Most Wanted more than once. Zieler has been charged with murder, sexual assault, and other crimes. (More murder stories.)