Authorities in western Wisconsin say a murder suspect has been arrested and charged in a nearly four-decades-old cold case.

Mary Josephine Bailey, 80, was arrested Monday in Maricopa County, Ariz., in the death of Yvonne Menke, who was shot three times after leaving her St. Croix Falls’ home for work at 6:25 a.m. on Dec. 12, 1985. Menke was 45.

Yvonne Menke. (Courtesy of Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

The Polk County District Attorney’s Office charged Bailey, of Apache Junction, Ariz., with first-degree murder. She remains at the Maricopa County jail, awaiting extradition to Wisconsin.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest Tuesday, saying investigators have worked the cold case the past years. Citing the ongoing investigation, the sheriff’s office declined to provide comment.

Menke was shot three times in her head and neck as she left home to go to work, according to the sheriff’s office cold case website. A person of interest was seen fleeing the alley area where her car was parked shortly after gunshots were heard.

The person of interest was believed to be under 6-feet tall, wearing a dark-colored stocking cap and a grey three-quarter length coat.

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