St Paul, MN (KROC AM News) - A woman who was murdered 35 years ago by a Minnesota State Trooper has finally been identified.

The Minnesota BCA says DNA testing of the remains of 18-year-old Michelle Busha (boo-SHAY')  confirmed the identity.Busha had been buried anonymously in a cemetery in the southern Minnesota town of Blue Earth. Her remains were exhumed last year.

The BCA says the Texas teenager was hitchhiking when she was given a ride by Trooper Robert Nelson, who was on duty at the time. Busha was raped, tortured and strangled. Nelson then dumped her body into a drainage ditch along I-90 near Blue Earth. Her body was found on  May 30, 1980.

Nelson pleaded guilty in 1989 to a manslaughter charge and also admitted to a sexual assault case involving his young son. He was given a 17 year prison term for the two crimes. He is currently serving a life term in Texas for other crimes.

The BCA says Busha was reported missing in Texas May 9, 1980. Two family members supplied DNA to investigators in 2007 and it was later linked to the remains of the missing teenager. The Olmsted County medical examiner’s office helped in the identification process.

The BCA says Busha’s remains are now being returned to her family.

( story contains information from the Associated Press )

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