DNA and genetic testing have led to the arrest of an Illinois man in the 23-year-old strangling death of a woman in southeastern Wisconsin, police said Wednesday.

Lucas Alonso, 66, of Zion, Illinois, was detained in Racine on Monday and charged with first-degree homicide in the slaying of 37-year-old Linda Fields, Racine police said. Her body was found under a low-hanging pine tree branch in the front yard of a home on Feb. 24, 2000.

DNA from Fields' body matched Alonso, investigators said.

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A man from Illinois was arrested in connection to the fatal strangling of a woman in Wisconsin.

Alonso told investigators he and Fields were having an intimate moment along the lakefront, a confrontation ensued, and he choked Fields. He claimed he believed Fields was alive as he walked away because she was yelling at him.

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Alonso made his first court appearance Wednesday and his bail was set at $1 million. It wasn’t clear whether he had an attorney who might comment on his behalf.