Teen's confession solves 47-year-old cold case of murdered teacher
- Diane Peterson was found dead at Branham High School in San Jose, California, in June 1978, with a single stab wound to her chest.
- Harry Nickerson, a 16-year-old student, was identified as the primary suspect based on witness accounts and early confessions but was not charged until recently.
- Investigators have now confirmed that Nickerson confessed to the murder to a family member shortly after the incident, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery.
In California, the cold case murder of schoolteacher Diane Peterson, who was fatally stabbed in 1978 at Branham High School, has been resolved nearly 50 years after the incident. The tragic event occurred one day after the school year ended, while teachers were cleaning out their classrooms for the summer break. At that time, a 16-year-old student, Harry Nickerson, was identified as a suspect due to his resemblance to a police sketch and witness accounts, including a claim that he confessed to a relative soon after the murder. However, investigations over the years failed to produce enough evidence to charge him, despite multiple witnesses claiming to have seen or heard Nickerson implicate himself in Peterson's death. Through the decades, several leads surfaced, but none concretely linked Nickerson to the crime until 2023, when family members revealed that Nickerson had confessed to the murder during a visit to their home right after the stabbing. Meanwhile, Nickerson struggled with various legal issues, facing charges for armed robbery, assault, and kidnapping after the murder. He ultimately passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1993, leaving many questions unanswered during his life. The case remained a painful memory for the community and Peterson's family, who longed for justice but were unable to see closure. In light of recent developments, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office expressed their commitment to solving cold cases, revealing that nearly 30 homicides have been resolved since the cold case unit was established in 2011. This case marked the fourth resolution of a cold case homicide for the unit in the current year, as authorities hope to provide long-awaited closure to victims' families, reiterating the importance of seeking justice, no matter how much time passes. Though Harry Nickerson cannot face justice in a court due to his passing, the confession received from his family member has finally brought some resolution to this decades-old tragedy. Community members and advocates are reminded of the devastating impact the crime had on those involved and the importance of addressing justice for all victims, echoing statements made by officials aimed at reinforcing that every life deserves acknowledgment and resolution.