SAN DIEGO -- A transient long considered a suspect in the slaying of a 12-year-old Escondido girl four years ago is expected to be arrested Tuesday in connection with her murder, 10News reported.

Richard Raymond Tuite, 33, who is serving time for an attempted burglary unrelated to the death of Stephanie Crowe (pictured, left), is to be charged with her murder later this week by the state attorney general's office, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Stephanie was found dead in her bedroom at the Crowe family home in northeast Escondido on the morning of Jan. 21, 1998. She had been stabbed nine times.

Her brother, Michael, who was 14 years old at the time of her slaying, and two of his high school classmates were originally charged with the murder.

But charges against the boys were dismissed when the results of DNA testing revealed traces of the girl's blood on a sweat shirt Tuite was wearing on the day of her murder, and the case has been under review for the past three years.

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Tuite Was Originally Discounted As Suspect Mother: Escondido Police Should Apologize

Witnesses also said that they saw Tuite (pictured, right) wandering near the Crowe family home, banging on doors and looking in windows, on the night before Stephanie's body was discovered.

Although officials from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and state attorney general's office declined to comment on the case, sources told the newspaper that sheriff's detectives plan to take Tuite into custody at Donovan State Prison, where he had been scheduled to be released on Friday after serving a three-year sentence for attempted burglary.

Lt. Mike McNally of the San Diego Sheriff's Department said early Tuesday that he had received no information regarding murder charges against Tuite or the prospect of his arrest.

Michael Crowe and his parents, Cheryl and Steve, told the newspaper that they were pleased by the reported decision to prosecute Tuite.

"We are very happy and relieved," Cheryl Crowe said, adding that the family is "very thankful for the sheriff's detectives who worked so long and hard to finally get this right."

Previous Stories:

• December 3, 2001: Gag Order Lifted In Stephanie Crowe Case
• November 15, 2001: Crowe Murder Suspect Back In Prison
• July 11, 2001: Crowe Murder Suspect Released From Prison
• June 29, 2001: Breakthrough Expected In Crowe Murder Case
• May 30, 2001: Man Linked To Crowe Murder Back In Prison
• May 25, 2001: Man Investigated In Crowe Murder To Be Paroled