BEAVER DAM, Wis. -- The husband of a woman killed in 1980 said he feels vindicated and angry after police finally arrested another man in connection with the killing this week.

Lane McIntyre came home to the Columbus apartment he shared with Marilyn McIntyre, 18, on March 11, 1980, and found her with a knife in her chest. Their 3-month-old son, Christopher, was still asleep.

Columbia County authorities said that new DNA tests led detectives to one of Lane McIntyre's friends from high school. They arrested Curtis Forbes, of Randolph, on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. He hasn't been charged yet and is expected in court Monday.

Lane McIntyre said people thought he did it.

"I've been a persecuted man for 29 years. I couldn't prove to anyone that I was innocent," Lane McIntyre said. "Am I thrilled about this? Yes. I finally get this dark cloud off of me and Marilyn gets the justice that she deserves to have."

McIntyre called Marilyn "a living angel" and said he was the "luckiest man in the world to be married to her." After her slaying, he said he lost everything dear to him.

McIntyre said he has had two more marriages fall apart and barely speaks to his son. McIntyre said he's angry at everyone who didn't stand by him.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that authorities identified Forbes as a person of interest shortly after the killing but he fled the state. The man -- a close friend of McIntyre's husband -- became a suspect after DNA analysis.

Detectives found Forbes during a traffic stop Tuesday near his rural Randolph home and later arrested him.

Lane McIntyre said he believes Forbes killed his wife Marilyn because she told Forbes' wife Debbie to leave him because of alleged abuse and offered her refuge.

"Debbie left him. For a week, Debbie was gone. This was the week before Marilyn died. Curt knew I worked the third-shift," Lane McIntyre said.

Search warrant documents said Lane McIntyre told authorities in 1980 that Forbes was one of "the few" people his wife would allow into their residence while Lane was at work.