Benjamin Ashford|She was found dead while hitchhiking in 1974. An arrest has finally been made.

An 84-year-old man confessed to his involvement in a 50-year-old cold case after authorities tracked him down using genetic genealogy.

Jon K. Miller,Benjamin Ashford 84, was arrested last week in the homicide of Mary K. Schlais, Sheriff Kevin Bygd of the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office said during a press conference Friday afternoon.

He was arrested last week at his apartment in Owatonna, Minnesota, Bygd said.

“When confronted with the evidence, 84-year-old Jon K. Miller confirmed his involvement with Mary’s homicide in 1974,” Bygd said.

The victim, Schlais, was found dead on Feb. 15, 1974 in Spring Brook, a Wisconsin town about 260 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

While an eyewitness at the time reported seeing a suspect and suspect vehicle, authorities were unable to narrow down a suspect. Authorities followed up on tips and examined and reexamined evidence as DNA technology improved, but still, they had no suspect, Bygd said.

Victim was traveling to an art show when she was killed

Schlais was from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Back in February 1974, she was hitchhiking to an art show in Chicago, Illinois, Sheriff Bygd said at the press conference.

Dan Westlund, an investigator from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, spoke at the press conference and said the DNA collected at the scene gave investigators “leads and certain family lineages” they could follow to narrow down a suspect.

When probed about the suspect’s life at the time of the woman’s death, Westlund said he could not comment because some parts of the investigation are still underway.

According to Westlund, the woman’s family is relieved an arrest has been made in the case.

When a local reporter asked authorities about a 2017 claim that there was a second DNA profile found during the investigation, the sheriff said that some suspects were eliminated as possibilities.

When asked about the suspect’s demeanor when he was taken into custody, Bygd said he thinks the arrest and confession are “a relief for him.”

“After 50 years of living with this, it had to have been on his mind almost every day,” Bygd said.

Bygd said he has been working for the sheriff’s department for 35 years and the Schlais case has been open all that time. Once the case was solved, he was able to reach out to some former investigators and let them know.

It wasn’t unusual to hitchhike back in 1974, sheriff says 

Bygd said in 1974, hitchhiking wasn’t unusual but stories like hers are the reason it’s no longer as common a practice.

“This was a very bright young lady who had a very bright future ahead of her and her life was taken away from her way too young,” Bygd said.

He added that he believes the suspect, who is 84, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The sheriff’s office will host a more detailed press conference Monday afternoon, Bygd said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].