Body of missing Minnesota college student found, police say

Associated Press

Published Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 | 1:28 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 | 2:48 p.m.

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — A body found in a ditch south of Minneapolis was identified Tuesday as a University of Minnesota student who was last seen with her ex-boyfriend 10 days ago, the same night he allegedly shot another man outside a bar, police said.

The Hennepin County medical examiner's office confirmed the body found Monday was that of 20-year-old Anarae Schunk, according to Rosemount police.

Schunk was last seen on Sept. 22 with her ex-boyfriend at a bar in Burnsville, about 20 miles south of Minneapolis. The ex-boyfriend, Anthony Lee Nelson, is charged with fatally shooting a man outside the bar that night.

Schunk went to Nina's Grill with Nelson, who has a long criminal record, and his current girlfriend, Ashley Conrade. Schunk reconnected with her old boyfriend in hopes of recovering a $5,000 loan he had never repaid, according to her family and friends.

Her brother, Tyson Schunk, said police requested dental records late Monday night so a medical examiner could determine if the body found near Lonsdale was his sister. The body was found about 20 miles from where his sister was last seen, he said.

Police are investigating Schunk's death and are seeking tips from the public, Rosemount Police Chief Eric Werner said in a news release. His office said Werner would not comment beyond the news release. The Dakota County Attorney's Office, which would be responsible for filing any charges, said it had not received the case from police yet. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office also has not yet issued a news release saying what caused Schunk's death.

Burnsville police said this weekend that they had received information that led them to believe Schunk had been killed, but would not be more specific. Tyson Schunk, told local media Sunday that police had found his sister's white U of M jacket covered with blood and 18 to 20 holes that may indicate she was stabbed. The family said police told them they found it in the St. Paul apartment of her ex-boyfriend's wife and that they found a knife connected with the case on the building's roof. Police have not publicly confirmed those details.

Nelson, 31, is charged with fatally shooting a man during a fight in the bar's parking lot. Witnesses told police Nelson was upset with the man, Palagor Jobi, for talking to Conrade and that they exchanged words before Jobi punched him. Nelson then shot Jobi eight times, according to the complaint.

Conrade told investigators that Schunk went with them back to her Rosemount townhouse, police said. However, neither Nelson nor Conrade has been charged in Schunk's disappearance.

Conrade is charged with aiding an offender after police say she harbored Nelson before he was arrested last week in Jobi's death.