An Owatonna, Minnesota man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in Dunn County, Wisconsin for the murder of a Minneapolis woman more than 50 years ago.
Genetic testing led to the arrest of now 84-year old Jon Miller this past November.
Miller confessed to killing 25-year old Mary Schlais in 1974 after picking her up as she hitchhiked from Minneapolis to Chicago for an art show. He admitted to stabbing her and then leaving her body on a road in Dunn County.
Investigators say DNA left from a stocking cap that was left at the scene led to Miller’s arrest.
Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd spoke at a news conference four months ago about the arrest, and what a relief it is to find some closure. Bygd adds even the suspect, Miller, is feeling relief.
"I believe it's got to be a relief for him," Sheriff Bygd says. "After 50 years of living with this, it had to have been on his mind almost every day. You would think anybody with a conscience, it would. So I think he was done fighting it personally."
Miller told investigators that he stabbed Schlais after she denied his sexual advances, and then tried to hide her body in a snowbank. However, Miller but was "scared" when another vehicle drove past.