DENVER (KDVR) — Authorities say that new technology has provided “decisive evidence that conclusively links” a suspect in the 1975 murder of 20-year-old John Curtis Patterson.

However, the suspect, identified as Louis Jess Locicero, then 32, had previously been suspected in the case and died in 2024.

The case was reported on Sept. 29, 1975, in the 4500 block of North Broadway, where the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office found the body of 20-year-old John Curtis Patterson, a Cascade Service Station clerk, in the gas station’s restroom. The agency said Patterson had a fatal stab wound to his chest.

The agency recovered two unfired .30 caliber cartridges on the bathroom floor, near Patterson’s body. The agency said the cartridges had extractor marks and “light hit” indications on the primers.

They also said that the cash register was found open and the cash was missing, which indicated to investigators that theft was the likely motive.

Detectives were led to Locicero, who had a criminal history of robbery, burglary, drug and weapon charges. Locicero was staying at a motel that is also located in the 4500 block of Broadway around the time of the murder, according to the sheriff’s office.

Evidence found in Locicero’s motel room included:

A .30 caliber M1 carbine firearm

A knife that matched the victim’s wound

Fibers from Patterson’s shirt found on the knife and in the sheath

Hairs on Locicero’s that matched Patterson’s hair

Locicero and “countless others” were interviewed by detectives and ultimately, Locicero was arrested for the crime in 1975. However, “he was released for unknown reasons” three days after his arrest, and before any charges were filed.

Recently, a breakthrough in ballistics evidence testing resulted in evidence linking Locicero to Patterson’s murder.

“The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was evaluating the Ballistics IQ device from Evidence IQ which linked the cartridges found at the murder scene and cartridges found in Locicero’s nearby hotel room to a single firearm — Locicero’s .30 caliber M1 carbine,” the office reported Wednesday. “Evidentiary items were later sent to Ballistics IQ for evaluation by ballistics experts, which ultimately confirmed these findings. This evidence now conclusively links Locicero’s weapon to the crime scene.”

If Locicero were still alive, the Boulder sheriff said there would be probable cause to arrest him. The Boulder District Attorney’s Office sent a letter detailing the findings to the sheriff’s office and confirming that if Locicero were still alive, he would be charged with first-degree murder under 1975 law.