50 years after the death of a hitchhiker in Wisconsin, an 84-year-old man is arrested in her death

An 84-year-old man was arrested this week in connection with the murder of a hitchhiker in Wisconsin 50 years ago.

Mary K. Schlais, 25, was found dead at an intersection in Spring Brook, Wisconsin, on Feb. 15, 1974, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Minneapolis woman was killed while hitchhiking to an art exhibition in Chicago, Sheriff Kevin Bygd said Friday.

“This was a very bright woman who had a very bright future ahead of her,” he said. “Her life was taken.”

Although investigators worked on the case for decades, searching for leads and collecting evidence, “no viable suspects have been identified,” according to the sheriff’s office.

But through forensic genetic genealogy, Bygd said, investigators tracked down 84-year-old Jon Miller at his home in Owatonna, Minnesota. Miller confirmed his involvement in Mary’s murder on Thursday after 50 years, Bygd said.

Miller is awaiting extradition to Wisconsin, Bygd said. It was unclear Friday afternoon whether Miller had retained an attorney.

Bygd said he was thrilled when he heard about Miller’s arrest.

“I had a hard time controlling my excitement,” he said. “You know, I’ve been with this agency for 35 years and this case has been handled for all of those 35 years.”

The sheriff continued, “This is a major victory for our department.”

The sheriff’s office said it worked with Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, for the past few years and its team of genetic genealogists helped identify Miller as a suspect.

Through genetic genealogy, law enforcement uses commercial DNA databases to find family matches to the DNA of a suspect, victim or missing person.

Last month, authorities in Arizona announced they were using genetic genealogy to identify a John Doe whose remains were found near the Hoover Dam more than a decade ago. The man was not seen by his family for almost 30 years.

Don Schlais, 79, of Minneapolis, said Friday he never thought he would see the day when there would be an arrest in his sister’s death.

“It’s just surreal. You don’t expect that after all this time,” he said.

Schlais said his sister earned a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Minnesota and is applying to graduate school. She had a passion for horses and riding, he said.

Schlais blamed law enforcement and the forensic team for the arrest. He said that whatever happens to Miller is out of his hands.

“I will let go and I will let God,” he said. “I suspect he’ll take care of it. He has to pay the karma when he dies.”