NORTH MANKATO — DNA samples taken from beer bottles reportedly tied a man to a third burglary in St. Peter in 2023.
Seth Theron Pierce, 23, listed as being from Eden Prairie, was charged with five felonies related to burglary and felony theft Friday in Nicollet County District Court.
A criminal complaint states a St. Peter resident woke up on June 16 to find his kitchen window screen had been cut open. He then noticed someone went through cabinets, drawers and dressers in the home and took $8,150 worth of jewelry and $350 in cash, according to the complaint.
The man told police the burglar left a half-full beer bottle in a basement bedroom. A detective took a DNA swab from the bottle.
The detective knew of another burglary in the city that evening in which two opened beer bottles were left at the scene.
Pierce was identified as the suspect in the burglary due to a license plate reported near the scene and his physical description matching what the alleged victim gave to police, the complaint states.
A DNA sample taken from Pierce reportedly came back matching the beer bottles, according to a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension analysis.
Pierce declined to provide a statement to police.
His first appearance related to the latest charges is set for May 21. He has plea hearings scheduled for May 28 related to other burglaries on June 14 and June 16.