Arrest Made in DiFrancesco Murder

A teenager has been charged in the murder of Krista DiFrancesco and the stabbing of another woman. The Burlington County prosecutor, Robert Bernardi, said that the arrest of Christian Kornberger (pictured) and the scenario leading up to his arrest did not completely unfold until late Thursday night. He said police have put together a timeline that connects the suspect to a murder and attempted murder, as well as other attacks in the area.

It was late November 2003 when Kornberger came to the attention of police. Now, six months later, Kornberger has been charged with the May 2003 murder of DiFrancesco and the attempted murder of Nancy Clark in November 2003.

DiFrancesco, 24, was stabbed and raped outside her home while her husband and 10-month-old baby were inside. She died two days later.

Her case drew widespread attention because several neighbors said they heard a scream hours before her body was found. Some said they rushed to their windows but returned to bed after not seeing anything alarming.

Clark, 46, was stabbed multiple times. The attack happened in the middle of the afternoon in front of her home in the same section of town. She survived the attack.

Authorities said that Kornberger laid in wait before attacking both women.

"There is absolutely no connector between any of these women to each other. No connector with our suspect to any of them. These are classic random attacks," Bernardi said.

Kornberger was taken into custody at 9 p.m. Thursday. Police said he wasn't charged until Friday morning when DNA evidence conclusively connected him to the Clark attack.

Officials said that Kornberger was one of 150 men who looked like the composite sketch created of the attacker and who voluntarily gave police a DNA sample.

Police said that the DNA Kornberger provided matched DNA found on a cigarette butt at the Clark crime scene.

DiFrancesco's husband, Bill, was a suspect from the very beginning. Police said Bill DiFrancesco's husband was never ruled out until they had definitive information that Kornberger was their man.

DiFrancesco's lawyer, Gary Boguski, attended the police press conference and said he gave Bill the good news as he was driving to his in-laws' house. Boguski said that Bill was so excited he was shaking uncontrollably and had to pull over to the side of the road.

Police are searching Kornberger's home for more evidence. NBC 10 News observed at least 12 police vehicles near the house in Evesham. In addition to searching the home, officials also dug in the yard, looking for the knife used in the Clark case and clothes worn during one of the attacks.

"He is a pretty nice person, you know? He is about maybe 19, and I was like -- when I heard -- I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. I don't know what to say," said one teen who knows Kornberger.

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