Midwest City man charged in 1997 murder of girl

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) – Prosecutors have charged a Midwest City man with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the abduction of an 8-year-old girl in 1997.

The Oklahoman reports (http://bit.ly/1kRA08H) 56-year-old Anthony Joseph Palma was charged Tuesday. He was arrested Oct. 12 after new DNA testing connected him to evidence found at the crime scene.

Kirsten Renee Hatfield disappeared after her mother put her to bed on May 13, 1997. Her body has not been found.

Investigators spent nearly two weeks searching for the girl’s body in Palma’s home after his arrest. Police say no human remains were found, though investigators haven’t said what evidence was taken from the home.

Palma lived two doors down from the victim and hasn’t moved since her disappearance.