The Vault

Joli Truelson: Connecting the Dots | PART 1


Listen Later

This series examines the devastating impact of a flawed investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department into the 1972 slaying of 16-year-old Joli Truelson – and her family’s renewed fight for answers in the wake of a killer’s confession. 

 

Joli Truelson was picked up on the evening of July 3, 1972 in Uptown Minneapolis by a man driving a newer model, gold-colored, two-door vehicle. Her body was discovered 15 hours later in Minnehaha Creek, four miles away. She died from blunt force trauma to the back of her head, insinuating that she was running away from her attacker. Critical evidence was thrown away, including the possible murder weapon. Since then, her case has gone cold. 

 

Joli Truelson’s brother, though, always thought her death could be linked to a similar crime: the death of 25-year-old Mary Schlais in 1974. 

 

On Nov. 7, 2024, Jon K Miller, 84, confessed to picking up Mary Schlais while she was hitchhiking in Minneapolis. When she refused to have sex with him, he stabbed her 15 times. He drove to Dunn County, Wisconsin – roughly 90 miles away – and dumped her body in a ditch. 

 

An eyewitness saw it all – and called it in to authorities. He described the man as being in his mid-30s with mid-length brown hair. He described the vehicle as a newer model, gold-colored, two-door car. The killer went more than 50 years without being caught, until advancements in DNA led authorities to Jon K Miller's rural Minnesota assisted living facility door. When confronted with evidence, he confessed.  

 

With the help of Joli Truelson’s family, this series digs deep into the life and criminal history of Jon K Miller, attempting to answer the question: Did he murder Joli Truelson? 

 

Jon K Miller has been questioned in Joli Truelson’s murder investigation, but has not been charged with any crimes related to her death. 

 

The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast. 

 

This episode is hosted by investigative reporter Trisha Taurinksas. 

 

For more information on this case, visit https://www.inforum.com/people/joli-truelson

 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The VaultBy Forum Communications Co.

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

75 ratings


More shows like The Vault

View all
Missing by Crawlspace Media

Missing

3,303 Listeners

The Vanished Podcast by Wondery

The Vanished Podcast

15,321 Listeners

20/20 by ABC News

20/20

11,868 Listeners

Bison Media Zone by Forum Communications Co.

Bison Media Zone

20 Listeners

The Fall Line: True Crime by The Fall Line®

The Fall Line: True Crime

4,291 Listeners

Dizzo's Den by Forum Communications Co.

Dizzo's Den

8 Listeners

Hell and Gone by iHeartPodcasts

Hell and Gone

7,484 Listeners

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations by True Story Media

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

845 Listeners

Kolpack and Izzo Podcast by Forum Communications Co.

Kolpack and Izzo Podcast

24 Listeners

Dateline NBC by NBC News

Dateline NBC

47,956 Listeners

Agweek Podcast by Forum Communications Co.

Agweek Podcast

8 Listeners

Mind Over Murder by William F. Thomas and Kristin M. Dilley

Mind Over Murder

460 Listeners

Park Predators by audiochuck

Park Predators

17,879 Listeners

Dark Downeast by audiochuck

Dark Downeast

4,482 Listeners

Huskies Hockey Insider by Forum Communications Co.

Huskies Hockey Insider

1 Listeners

Midwest Murder by Jonah Lantto & Dawn Palumbo with the Good Talk Network

Midwest Murder

886 Listeners

Post Bulletin Minute by Forum Communications Co.

Post Bulletin Minute

4 Listeners

Grand Forks Herald Minute by Forum Communications Co.

Grand Forks Herald Minute

5 Listeners

Health Fusion by Forum Communications Co.

Health Fusion

3 Listeners

Brainerd Dispatch Minute by Forum Communications Co.

Brainerd Dispatch Minute

6 Listeners

WDAY Sports Minute by Forum Communications Co.

WDAY Sports Minute

1 Listeners

Mitchell Republic Minute by Forum Communications Co.

Mitchell Republic Minute

1 Listeners

The Deck by audiochuck

The Deck

11,750 Listeners

Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast by Forum Communications Co.

Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast

4 Listeners

Beyond All Repair by WBUR

Beyond All Repair

3,139 Listeners

Murder: True Crime Stories by Crime House

Murder: True Crime Stories

740 Listeners

Archive Dive with the Superior Telegram by Forum Communications Co.

Archive Dive with the Superior Telegram

6 Listeners

Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen by Roxane Salonen

Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen

9 Listeners

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2 by iHeartPodcasts

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2

307 Listeners

Northland Outdoors by Forum Communications Co.

Northland Outdoors

4 Listeners

She Overcomes: Becoming BOLD with Melanie Rudd by Melanie Iverson Rudd

She Overcomes: Becoming BOLD with Melanie Rudd

6 Listeners

Echo Press Minute by Thalen Zimmerman

Echo Press Minute

0 Listeners

The Health Variant by Forum Communications Co.

The Health Variant

6 Listeners

The Other Side of the Table by Forum Communications Co

The Other Side of the Table

7 Listeners