Diane Peterson murder case solved 47 years later

Almost 50 years after a beloved teacher was stabbed to death in a hall in California, the authorities say they have identified her murderer – and it was one of her students.

Harry “Nicky” Nicerson, who was 16 years old at that time, staked Diane Peterson in 1978 at Branham High School in San Jose, said Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office in a statement.

Investigators were told this year that Nickerson was admitted to acknowledging the murder of a family member. Another witness told the police that Nicerson acknowledged that they knit and had once seen a knife with “teacher dear” written on it.

At that time, the police could not confirm this claim, says the statement from the Prosecutor’s Office. Nickerson died of suicide in 1993.

On June 16, 1978, a student Peterson found on the floor near her classroom with a single stitch on her chest. Prosecutors say that the knife knitting occurred the day after school released for the summer while the teachers cleaned out their classrooms.

Nickers was a first suspect in the murder. A 1978 booking photo authorities took off resembled a compound sketch of the suspect created based on eyewitness accounts for the attack, the statement said.

Prosecutors say that in 1983 the family claimed to a student at the high school that their son saw the killing and identified Nickerson as the responsible person, but the witness later denied that he stated.

In 1984, a witness told the police that Nickerson involved in the murder and is said to say that it happened after Peterson captured him who handled drugs, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Between 2023 and 2024, the district lawyer’s office said that its crime laboratory conducted extensive DNA testing but could not identify a suspect.

Prosecutors say that in 2025 a relative of Nickeerson came forward and admitted to the police that Nickerson came home a few minutes after the murder and admitted to stacked Peterson.

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“Almost five decades have passed since a young teacher’s life was tragic,” said San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph in a statement. “While the suspect will never never trial or face the consequences for his actions, we hope this resolution brings a Measure of Peace to the Victim’s Loved Ones and to a Community that has carried this loss for Far Too Long. Seek The Trust – Because Every Victim Matters, and Every Life Deserves Justice. ”

A family member of Petersons thanked investigators for “not giving up for 47 years”, according to the statement from the district lawyer’s office. “Diane was a beautiful and wonderful person who is missing expensive,” said the unidentified family member.