The young woman's cold-blooded murder was cracked by a piece of clothing

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The young woman's cold-blooded murder was cracked by a piece of clothing

A man suspected of killing a young driver 50 years ago has been arrested, thanks to a DNA test.

The arrest of Jon K. Miller, 84, was announced by the County Sheriff's Office on Thursday. Miller, a resident of Owatonna, Minnesota, was charged with first degree murder in connection with the 1974 murder of Mary K. Schlais.

Detectives had been working on this cold case for 50 years. Schlais, a 25-year-old traveling artist from Minneapolis, en route to an art exhibit in Chicago when he was killed.

“Schlais was found dead near the intersection of 408th Ave. and 990th St. in Spring Brook Township, Dunn County,” the County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. “There was an eyewitness who saw the suspect and the suspect's car which is believed to be related to the murder of Mary Schlais.”

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Mary Schlais, 25, was found dead near an intersection in Wisconsin in 1974. (Dunn County Sheriff's Office/Google Maps)

Over the past 50 years, investigators have examined dozens of clues that have gone missing. It wasn't until authorities worked with the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College in New Jersey that the case was able to move forward.

Sheriff Kevin Bygd told Fox News Digital that a hat found at the scene led authorities to the suspect. At a press conference on Friday, Bygd announced that Miller had admitted his involvement in the murder.

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

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Jon K. Miller, 84, pleaded guilty to complicity in the 1974 murder. (Steele County Sheriff's Office)

“I believe it must be a relief for him after 50 years of living with this,” Bygd said later at press time. “[This has] he had to be on her mind almost every day. You would think [for] anyone with a conscience, it would be.”

The sheriff also noted that hitchhiking was common in 1974.

“You know, in 1974, it wasn't unusual for someone to hike from Minneapolis to Chicago,” Bygd said. “But stories like this are the reason we don't let our kids do it anymore.”