Larry Gene Hicks, 78, faces a second-degree murder charge for the December 1984 death of Diana Lukosius.Â
According to court documents, Lukosius was found beaten by her car off State Highway 5 on Dec. 15, 1984. Police at the time believed her attacker forced her off the road. Lukosius died two days later from her injuries.Â
Hicks was identified as a person of interest in the murder investigation in 1989. Hicks wife, Cindi Hicks Mathis, and her daughter were interviewed by deputies. The daughter, Terri Lea Gilliland, told authorities in October 1989 that Hicks would start drinking and beat her. Gilliland also told authorities that Hicks didn t get home until 1 or 2 a.m., and that he got more violent and was always drunk after Lukosius death.