The DNA match that linked a New York City drama student's unsolved 2004 death to a protest affiliated with Occupy Wall Street this spring came from an NYPD technician who worked on both cases, sources said.

A database of DNA samples recently matched DNA on evidence collected after the protest to material on a CD player found near Sarah Fox's body.

But on Wednesday, the official said that during the usual process of excluding people who may have handled evidence, it was determined the DNA came from an NYPD lab worker who dealt with both cases.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

Fox, 21, was on a semester off from her studies at The Juilliard School when she vanished after setting out to go running. Her body was found after six days in the park, with her clothing gone and her larynx fractured.

Her CD player was about 100 feet away.

Police questioned a resident of the neighborhood near the park, Dimitry Sheinman, and he surprised them by saying he had "visions" about Fox that could help the investigation.

Former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau pronounced Sheinman the "No. 1 suspect," but Sheinman was never charged. He has denied any wrongdoing. No contact information for him could immediately be found.

Mirela Iverac contributed reporting