Family searches again for missing U of M student

Anna Rae Schunk
Anna Rae Schunk, 20, has been missing since Sept. 22, 2013.
Photo courtesy of Please Help Find Anarae Schunk

Anarae Schunk reconnected with her old boyfriend in hopes of recovering a $5,000 loan he had never repaid, but it may have been a fatal mistake for the 20-year-old University of Minnesota student, who has been missing since the night police say the ex-boyfriend shot another man to death outside a suburban Twin Cities bar.

Burnsville police said this weekend they'd received information that led them to believe Schunk had been killed, but would not be more specific. The investigation into her death is ongoing.

Schunk's oldest brother, 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, as well as that a knife connected with the case was on the building's roof. Police have not publicly confirmed those details.

Anarae Schunk's mother, Mariana Schunk, declined to comment Monday, referring questions to her sons Tyson and Owen, who did not immediately return phone calls from The Associated Press on Monday. Neither did Burnsville police officials.

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Police have said Anarae Schunk was last seen in the early hours of Sept. 22 at Nina's Grill in the company of her ex-boyfriend, Anthony Lee Nelson, also known as Shavelle Oscar Chavez-Nelson. His current girlfriend, 24-year-old Ashley Conrade, was there, too.

Nelson, 31, is charged with second-degree murder for in the death of Palagor Jobi during a fight in the bar's parking lot. Witnesses told police Nelson was upset with Jobi for talking to Conrade, and they exchanged words before Jobi punched him. The complaint says Nelson then shot Jobi eight times.

Conrade told investigators that Schunk went with them back to her Rosemount townhouse, police said. Neither Nelson -- who has a long criminal record -- nor Conrade have been charged in Schunk's disappearance. Conrade is charged with aiding an offender after police say she harbored Nelson before he was arrested last Tuesday.

The Schunks started a Facebook page after Anarae disappeared, which is now dotted with friends' and relatives' memories of the devoted student and chess wizard.

The family said in a post Monday they are continuing their search, which is separate from the police investigation.