NY Police Investigate 1985 Homicide of Burnsville Student

The New York State Police continue to investigate a 31-year-old case involving the murder of a college student from Burnsville, Minnesota.

The 1985 homicide of 20-year-old Kristin O’Connell in Ovid, New York, still hasn't been solved, according to a news release.

Police say on Aug. 14, 1985, O'Connell was visiting a friend in Ovid. At about 11:00 p.m., O’Connell left a gathering at the friend’s home, alone and on foot, to go for a walk.

When O’Connell did not return, friends went looking for her, and reported her missing to police the next morning.

On Aug. 16, 1985, a search was conducted of the area near the residence where O’Connell was last seen.

O’Connell was found dead with stab wounds in a nearby corn field off of West Seneca Street.

The investigation revealed the night O’Connell went for a walk, at about 11:30 p.m., a number of witnesses observed her along County Route 139.

Several witnesses say they saw her talking to someone in a vehicle stopped in the roadway. She then walked in the direction of a trailer along the roadway with two males following 30 feet behind her.

The vehicle and the two males have never been identified. Nearly 2,000 leads have been investigated, but the case remains unsolved and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call (585) 398-4100. All calls can remain confidential.