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Cold Case: Marcus Potts

By Caroline Lowe, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- After being convicted of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of 11-year-old Marcus Potts in North Minneapolis in 1990, Eugene Fort received a sentence of life in prison on Oct. 8, 2007.

Investigators said Fort stabbed Marcus Potts 44 times in the face and neck on Dec. 15, 1990. Police believe the child surprised Fort while he was trying to rob the Potts' house 10 days before Christmas.

Marcus Potts' mother found her son's body in his bedroom around 2 a.m., when she returned from her bartending job.

Police have suspected Fort in the murder for nearly 16 years. A trail of bloody footprints lead police to Fort's apartment and he was arrested back in 1990. He was later released because of a lack of evidence.

Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said new DNA testing of the blood samples taken from Fort's apartment tied him to Marcus Potts' killing. She said there was also new information from witnesses.

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