A local cold case heats back up with the following information released from Dunn County authorites:
On February 15, 1974, Mary K. Schlais was found deceased near the intersection of 408th Ave. and 990th St. in the Township of Spring Brook, Dunn County. Mary’s death at that time was ruled a homicide.
The initial investigation revealed that Mary was from Minneapolis, MN and was believed to be hitch hiking from Minneapolis, MN to an art show in Chicago, IL. There was an eye-witness that observed a suspect and suspect vehicle that were believed to be connected to the homicide of Mary Schlais.
Over the course of the next several decades there were many tips, leads, and interviews conducted related to this homicide by multiple law enforcement agencies. There were also several items of evidence examined and re-examined over the years as technological advances in DNA were developed. Still, no viable suspects were identified.
In recent years, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office Investigators began working with Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey and their team of Genetic Genealogists. Through investigative genetic genealogy a viable suspect was identified.
On November 7, 2024 Dunn County Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested Jon K. Miller (84) of Owatonna, MN for the homicide of Mary K. Schlais. Jon Miller is in custody and awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin.
