FARMINGTON — A Portland man accused of killing an 8-year-old Indiana boy 28 years ago agreed Wednesday to waive extradition.

David Bruce Brown, 44, appeared in Farmington District Court for a hearing .

Bowen was arrested in Kingfield at an apartment where he was staying while employed by a painting contractor doing work at the new Poland Spring
bottling plant, authorities said.

In a brief court appearance before District Court Judge Paul Cote, Bowen answered questions relating to his extradition and affirmed he would not contest it. He was accompanied by his court -appointed attorney, Kevin Joyce of Farmington.

Bowen will remain at the Franklin County jail until Indiana authorities take him home, likely within the week.

Bowen, who was 16 at the time, had been the prime suspect in the rape and
murder of Kenny Conrick, who disappeared on his way home from school outside
of Gary on Oct. 13, 1979. His nude body was found in the woods 13 days later
with a rope around his neck and one foot tied to a tree. An autopsy determined he had been sexually molested and strangled.

Investigators from the Gary Police Department and Lake County Sheriff's
Department revived the cold case when they received new information.

They located Bowen, who had lived in Kenny's neighborhood and moved to
Portland three years after the murder. Police said with advances in DNA
technology, they were able to tie him to the crime scene.

Indiana investigators had been working with Portland police to track Bowen
since 2006 and then the Task Force picked up the case in July, keeping Bowen
under surveillance as an arrest warrant was prepared in Indiana, said Chief
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Clark on Wednesday.