DNA from energy drink helped identify suspect in antiques theft from Cornwall home: police – NBC Connecticut

State police have arrested a Newtown woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of antiques from a Cornwall home last summer.

DNA from a can left at the crime scene was traced back to the 39-year-old suspect, the arrest warrant states.

The investigation began on September 6, 2023, when a Cornwall resident contacted state police to report that someone had broken into his home and tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of paintings, artwork and antiques were missing.

According to the arrest warrant, the missing items included Native American and Indonesian artifacts, sculptures, tools and a collection of Mad magazine from the 1960s and 1970s.

The homeowner said he had not been in the house for weeks and that contractors had been working on the building while he was in New York.

The house was ransacked, but among the rubble, police found an opened can of an energy drink. State police took it as evidence and a lab was able to match the can’s DNA to the suspect’s, state police said.

On September 9, 2023, evidence was also found at Macedonia State Park that also led police to the suspect, who state police said was a guest at a campground in the park.

The Newtown woman was charged with third-degree burglary and first-degree theft.

She was released on $5,000 bail and is due in court on July 30.