Dead Girl Had Been Molested

VANCOUVER, Wash. - An 11-year-old girl whose body was found in the Columbia River had been sexually molested, police say.

The FBI has joined the investigation of the death of Mistie Micheletti and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

The fifth-grader disappeared Jan. 15, and her body was found in the river the next day. Police said at the time it was possible she had been abducted or had run away from home.

Vancouver police Capt. Bob Kanekoa said Friday that lab tests confirmed the presence of sperm in the girl's body.

"It's still a mystery," he said. "We're still not sure she was abducted. Until we get that missing piece, I hate to speculate on what occurred. The main change now is that we are treating it as if it is a homicide."