James Michael Coates and Joshua Harmon.

Mostafa Al Zoubi, Gulf Today

American national James Michael Coates, 56, was arrested and convicted of a murder he committed on May 15, 1988, — 33 years later.

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The victim was the child, Joshua Harmon, 8, who disappeared from Atlanta, USA, and his body was discovered in the woods.

Coates was arrested at the apartment complex, where the child resided.

The criminal faces felony murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

"When the criminal remains free for a long time, it is actually a tragedy no family whose child dies can stand," Roswell Police Chief James Conroy said at a news conference.

The victim's body was discovered two days later in an area near his house and the killer resided there also.

After taking permission from the victim’s family, the police took out the child's body in February 2021, hoping to find more evidence.

After conducting additional DNA testing on evidence on the crime scene, the police said they linked Coates to the crime.

Conroy said at a press conference that investigators, police officers, scientists and others who worked on the case over the past years did not give up hope that Josh's murderer would be brought to justice.