Florida

Man Indicted in 26-Year-Old Double Murder, Rape in Florida

A southwest Florida man has been indicted on charges related to the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl and her mother's roommate 26 years ago.

The News Press reports that a grand jury formally charged 54-year-old Joseph Zieler on Thursday with two counts of first-degree murder. He also faces sexual battery and burglary charges.

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 haven't reported any prior connection between Zieler and the victims.

Zieler was being held in the Lee County jail on an unrelated assault charge in September when authorities say his DNA matched the old murders.

A telephone message left with the public defender's office wasn't immediately returned.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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