CBS News Bay Area: Cold case murder of San Jose teacher solved after 47 years; teen killer had knife inscribed with "Teacher Dear"
Investigators have solved the cold case murder of a San Jose teacher stabbed to death at Branham High School nearly 50 years ago, naming a teenager who was originally suspected in the crime as the killer, authorities announced Monday.
On June 16, 1978, a student found Diane Peterson on the floor near her classroom with a single stab wound to her chest, the day after school was let out for summer and while teachers were cleaning out their classrooms.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said in a press release Monday that Harry "Nicky" Nickerson, a 16-year-old at the time, was the person who stabbed Peterson. Nickerson had been suspected in the case, and he bore a resemblance to a police sketch of the suspect based on witness accounts. Nickerson was not a student at Branham, Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker said at a press conference Monday.