The Friday the 13th Murders on Investigation Discovery revisits one of Minnesota’s most heartbreaking cold cases in episode 7, telling the story of Michelle Yvette Busha, an 18-year-old hitchhiker whose identity remained unknown for 35 years. Found dead near Blue Earth, Minnesota, in late May 1980, she was a Jane Doe until 2015 when exhumation and DNA testing finally matched family samples, bringing closure to a family who never stopped searching.
Table of Contents
Michelle Busha’s Case at a Glance
| Case Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Michelle Yvette Busha, 18 years old |
| Hometown | Bay City, Texas |
| Date of Death | May 26, 1980 |
| Body Discovered | May 30, 1980 (Blue Earth, Minnesota) |
| Killer | Robert Leroy Nelson (Minnesota State Trooper) |
| Confession | June 1988 (8 years after the murder) |
| Identification | March 13, 2015 (35 years later via DNA) |
The Tragic Journey to Minnesota
Michelle left her family in Bay City, Texas, in December 1979, staying in contact through collect phone calls as she traveled through Louisiana and Indiana. The calls reportedly stopped in spring 1980, and her family never heard from her again. Unknown to them, Michelle had hitchhiked north to Minnesota, where she encountered a predator in uniform.
On May 26, 1980, Minnesota State Trooper Robert Leroy Nelson offered Michelle a ride after witnessing her being dropped off near the Bricelyn overpass along Interstate 90. What should have been help from law enforcement became a nightmare. Nelson raped, beat, tortured and strangled her, removing her fingernails while she was still alive and shaving her head before disposing of her body in a drainage ditch.
The Confession That Solved Nothing
Former Minnesota state trooper Robert Leroy Nelson confessed years earlier to killing an unidentified hitchhiker, but the victim’s name remained unknown until the DNA hit was confirmed. The confession detailed the horrific crime but couldn’t answer the most important question: who was she?
How Science and Dedication Brought Her Home
In 2015, samples obtained from her family in 2007 were matched to her remains, and dental records confirmed the identification on March 13. The breakthrough came after Deb Anderson, a Blue Earth resident, championed the exhumation effort since 2003, refusing to let the Jane Doe remain nameless. Her relentless advocacy, combined with modern DNA technology, finally gave Michelle her identity back.
The Busha family maintained the same phone number and address for decades, hoping Michelle would return. Instead, they received devastating news that brought both answers and renewed grief.
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Where to Watch
The Friday the 13th Murders season 1 streams on HBO Max, Discovery+, Investigation Discovery, and Philo, with episodes also available for purchase on Amazon Video and Fandango At Home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was Michelle Busha finally identified after 35 years?
Michelle Busha was identified through advanced DNA testing conducted in 2015. Her body was exhumed in August 2014 to obtain new DNA samples, which were then matched to family DNA collected in 2007. The identification was officially confirmed on March 13, 2015, ending 35 years of uncertainty for her family who had maintained the same contact information hoping she would return home.
What happened to Robert Leroy Nelson, Michelle Busha’s killer?
Robert Leroy Nelson, a Minnesota State Trooper at the time of the murder, confessed to killing Michelle Busha in June 1988 while being questioned about an unrelated sexual assault case. He was convicted of her murder and sentenced to two life sentences. His confession was credible and included details about offering her a ride while on duty, though he never knew her name at the time of his confession.
