(NECN: Marnie Maclean, Portland, Maine) - Dennis Dechaine is now 54 years old, a long way from the young man who walked out of the woods back in 1988 and found himself accused of the kidnapping and killing of 12-year-old Sarah Cherry of Bowdoinham.
Dechaine was convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison.
He has always maintained his innocence. Several appeals have been denied. Now, he is hoping a small fragment of DNA will lead to a new trial and ultimately, freedom.
"This is the kind of thing that leads to exoneration; we don't have to prove who did this," said Dechaine's attorney, Steve Peterson.
During a three-day hearing, the defense has tried to show that the DNA found underneath one of Sarah Cherry's fingernails belonging to an unknown male is enough to cast doubt on Dechaine's conviction and should lead to a new trial.
The prosecution argued that DNA has nothing to do with the crime but is a product of contamination, citing poor sanitary conditions during Sarah Cherry's autopsy.
And while the hearing focused solely on that DNA fragment, the state says it's a small part of the case.
"When you put this unknown piece of evidence into context with the other evidence it is overwhelming as to the guilt of Mr. Dechaine," said prosecutor William Stokes.
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For Sarah Cherry's mother, it is yet another trip into a courtroom to face the man she firmly believes killed her daughter.
"It's been hard, just when I think it's done and over with something else comes up," said Debbie Crossman.
Before ruling on a new trial, the judge has allowed the defense to re-test items from the crime scene where they will attempt to "scrape" for DNA.
If this new testing does show additional DNA from this unknown male, it will bolster the state's case for a new trial. If not, the prosecution and her family hope it will mean the end to 24 years of litigation.
"Victims should have some rights, too, not just all criminals,” said Peg Cherry. “Why they call it criminal justice, we want justice for the victims, too."
