Jury Convicts Man In 1996 Rape, Slaying Of Michigan Woman

KALKASKA, Mich. (AP) - A 37-year-old man has been convicted in the 1996 rape and slaying of a northern Michigan woman.

A Kalkaska County jury on Wednesday found Jason Ryan of Davison guilty of murder and criminal sexual conduct in the death of 68-year-old Geraldine Montgomery.

Montgomery's body was found in the trunk of her car.

A judge declared a mistrial in December following two days of deliberations in the first trial.

Jamie Peterson was convicted of the crimes in 1998 and sentenced to life without parole. He was released in September 2014 after DNA tests showed he didn't attack Montgomery.

Prosecutors say the new DNA tests placed Ryan at the crime scene.

County Prosecutor Mike Perreault says Wednesday's verdict "brings some justice to a family that has been waiting for a long time."

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