Cold Case of Kim Bryant (16 years old), Killed in Las Vegas. Solved 42 Years Later

For a teenager who was murdered more than 40 years ago, the case has been closed.

“The LVMPD homicide section investigated this case for years without being able to identify a suspect,” Lieutenant Ray Spencer said. “As a result, Kim’s case was eventually classified as a cold case homicide for the past 42 years.”

Detectives claimed they knew who was responsible for Kim Bryant’s death at 16 years old. She was kidnapped, raped and then killed. 

Kim graduated from Western High School, Las Vegas in 1979. Police say that Johnny Blake Peterson was the suspect. 

“We have conducted an extensive investigation into Johnny Blake Peterson’s background.”They said. “And learned that he resided in Las Vegas at the time of Kim’s death.”

Investigators were able, thanks to a generous donation to send DNA samples to testing which confirmed that they were indeed a match. 

Peterson was not a suspect in the case. He passed away in 1993.

“Nothing is going to make the pain go away,”Additional police officers.” But at least the family has some closure.”