Owatonna man arrested in connection with 50-year-old murder case

OWATONNA, Minn. (KTTC) — An 83-year-old Owatonna man has been arrested following a 50-year investigation into a Minneapolis woman whose body was found in Dunn County, Wisconsin in 1974.

Jon Keith Miller was arrested Nov. 7 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mary Schlais.

According to court documents, Wisconsin investigators received tips about the murder in October 2024 after DNA analysis linked Miller to the incident.

When presented with the DNA evidence, investigators said Miller admitted that he picked up Schlais 50 years ago while she was hitchhiking in Dunn County, Wisconsin, and stabbed her to death.

Miller is currently being held at the Steele County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Wisconsin.

The criminal complaint indicates that Miller should be sentenced to life in prison.

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