New developments in murder case of beloved Baltimore nun, subject of new Netflix doc

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - There are new developments in thedecades-old murder case of a beloved Baltimore nun.

Baltimore County Police say DNA from the body of a priest exhumed from his grave could help crack the case.

The investigation involves Joseph Maskell, a defrocked priest who was accused of sexually abusing several people.

Baltimore County Police exhumed Markell's body Feb. 28 to extract material for a DNA profile in connection to the murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik nearly 50 years ago.

"There are people who believe that Sister Cesnik, perhaps, was in danger because she knew something about abuse involving Father Maskell," said Elise Armacost, spokesperson for Baltimore County Police.

Police say someone abducted Cesnik outside her residence on North Bend Road in the city in November 1969. Two months later, her body was discovered at a dumping area in Halethorpe.

Investigators want to compare Maskell's DNA to physical evidence from that crime scene.

"Our detectives feel that this case can never be fully resolved until we look at his DNA, compare it to the remaining evidence and determine whether it matched," said Armacost. She added, "If it matches, there'll be a huge break in the case."

Cesnik's death is now the subject of a Netflix original documentary series called "The Keepers." It premieres May 19.