California Teen Identified as Suspect in 1978 Fatal Stabbing of Teacher

A teenager long suspected of fatally stabbing a teacher at a California high school over 40 years ago has been identified following a relative’s report to authorities regarding a confession made shortly after the crime. Harry Nickerson, who was just 16 at the time of the murder, is believed to have killed Diane Peterson at Branham High School in San Jose in 1978. Nickerson died by suicide in 1993.

According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, an earlier witness had reported seeing Nickerson with a knife inscribed with the words “Teacher Dear.” However, this account could not be substantiated. Diane Peterson was discovered on June 16, 1978, with a single stab wound to her chest, one day after school had been dismissed for the summer while teachers were busy clearing their classrooms.

From the outset, Nickerson was a suspect in the case. In 1983, relatives of another student informed police that this student claimed to have witnessed Nickerson stab Peterson; however, the student later recanted that statement. A further development occurred in 1984 when another witness claimed that Nickerson had confessed to the murder.

While Nickerson faced various criminal charges throughout his life, including armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, recent efforts to uncover evidence linking him to Peterson’s murder via DNA analysis did not succeed. This year, a relative of Nickerson approached investigators with information about his confession to them shortly after the murder. Rob Baker, a prosecutor with the district attorney’s cold case unit, remarked that the new testimony revealed detailed knowledge of the crime that would only come from someone who had spoken with Nickerson.

In a heartfelt statement, a relative of Peterson expressed gratitude to the investigators for their perseverance in the case, highlighting that Diane was a beautiful person who is deeply missed.