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Panty theft cold case cracked with help of fingerprint analysis

NEWBURGH, Ind. (WISH) — Authorities say fingerprint analysis helped connect a man to a 2014 burglary where more than 30 pairs of underwear were stolen from a woman’s home. 

Aaron Otto, 32 of Newburgh, was arrested Saturday and faces charges of burglary and theft, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. 

In September, Otto was arrested for allegedly leaving sexually explicit messages on the vehicles of female students at the University of Southern Indiana.

The notes, which were sexually explicit in nature, were written in a way that “led the victims to believe that they were being watched,” the sheriff’s office said. 

Fingerprint and palm print evidence found on those notes helped detectives link Otto to evidence found in the burglary case. 

On Sunday, Otto remained in the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $5,000 bond.