A Minnesota man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 1997 slaying of his wife will be arraigned after the New Year.

John Bloomfield, 73, of St. Paul was charged in November with first-degree murder.

Bloomfield called Iowa City police September 1997 and reported he had just returned home from a business trip and found his wife missing. He claimed that his home had been burglarized, according to a press release.

Later near Rockford, Ill., police found the body of his wife Frances bound with ligatures and wrapped in plastic.

According to an Iowa City police complaint, Bloomfield had an interest in another woman and was in the Chicago area during the time his wife was killed.

Forensic analysis of one of the ligatures used to bind the victim’s body revealed DNA from a male source, which police believe is consistent with Bloomfield’s DNA.

The 73-year-old will be arraigned on Jan. 3, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Johnson County Courthouse, according to online court documents.

— by Brent Griffiths