Police arrested Miller in his Owatonna apartment, and according to Sheriff Bygd, he confessed to his involvement in Schlais's murder to investigators after being presented with evidence. Investigator Daniel Westlund for the Dunn County Sheriff's Office says that police have spoken to Schalis's family and are "relieved and very thankful for our agency and everyone that's assisted thus far in the investigation.

Schlais, 25, was found dead near the intersection of 408th Avenue and 990th Street in Spring Brook Township in Dunn County, Wisconsin, on Feb. 15, 1974. She was hitchhiking from Minneapolis to an art show in Chicago.