BOSTON (AP) – A jury on Tuesday found an Alabama man not guilty of murdering an 11-year-old girl in New Hampshire more than 35 years ago.

One factor in the case was whether the jury believed the DNA found under Melissa Ann Tremblay’s fingernails belonged to Marvin “Skip” McClendon Jr. After telling the judge Monday they were deadlocked, the jury returned Tuesday and found McClendon not guilty on the sixth day of deliberations. .

“Mr. McClendon’s attorney, Henry Fasoldt, told The Associated Press that he was greatly relieved by the verdict, adding that he would return to Alabama after two and a half years in custody. “We appreciate the jury’s careful and thoughtful deliberations.”

Essex District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said he was “disappointed in the verdict” but praised the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement in the case.

“I appreciate the jury’s work and dedication during their lengthy deliberations in this case,” Tucker said. “My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who is suffering greatly as a result of the crime that claimed her life.”

A judge last year declared a mistrial in McClendon’s case after a jury deadlock. The Salem, New Hampshire girl’s body was found at a train station in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on September 12, 1988, one day after she was reported missing.

Last year, the victim went to a Lawrence social club not far from the railroad station with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend and went outside to play while the adults were inside, authorities said. He was reported missing later that night.

The girl’s mother, Janet Tremblay, died in 2015 at age 70, according to her obituary. However, surviving relatives go to court to observe the final hearing.

The family said in a statement that they respect the process, but believe McClendon is still guilty of murder based on DNA results.

“DNA was Missy’s way of trying to tell us who killed her,” the family said in a statement. “While she was being attacked, she fought for her life and got his DNA under her fingernails so we could find a match and make the person who killed her pay for their crime. Even though he is found innocent in a court of law, he will ultimately pay the penalty for his crime on the final Judgment before God.”

After initially eliminating several suspects, including two drug addicts, authorities turned their attention to McClendon.

He was arrested at his home in Alabama in 2022, based in part on DNA evidence.

Essex County Deputy District Attorney Jessica Strasnick told the jury that McClendon’s comments during his arrest showed he knew the details of the crime and that he “focused on the fact that ladies and gentlemen because he knew he was being beaten.” “He was stabbed, that is, beaten, that day.”

Strasnick said a left-hander like McClendon stabbed Tremblay. He told jurors that the carpenter and former Massachusetts corrections officer knew Lawrence and frequented bars and strip clubs in the city. He also lived less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away at the time of the murder.

Strasnick told the jury that DNA evidence taken from under Tremblay’s fingernails did not cover 99.8% of the male population.

But Fasoldt said there was no evidence the DNA came from under Tremblay’s fingernails or from McClendon.

Fasoldt also said evidence showed Tremblay may have been stabbed by a right-handed person rather than a left-handed person.

He also argued that McClendon had no “meaningful connection” to Lawrence but otherwise lived in Chelmsford, 16 miles (25 kilometers) away. In 2002, he moved to Alabama, to a land his family owned.