Decade-Old Colorado Homicide Solved as CBI Identifies Victim Through DNA and Genetic Genealogy

Description: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation identified John Cizek as the victim in a 2016 homicide using genetic genealogy after remains were discovered in Park County in 2024. Read the full Press release from Colorado Bureau of Investigation...

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Identifies Victim in Decade-Old Homicide Case Using Genetic Genealogy

March 27, 2026 – CBI –  Bailey, CO –The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in partnership with the Golden Police Department, Park County Sheriff’s Office and the Park County Coroner’s Office,  announced today the identification of human remains discovered in 2024, bringing resolution to  the missing person portion of a 10-year-old homicide case.

The unidentified human remains (UHR) discovered near Bailey, Colorado, have been positively identified as John Cizek, 71, of Newark, California. Cizek was the victim of a homicide committed in June 2016.

Discovery and Identification

On May 28, 2024, male skeletal remains were found by a fisherman in a shallow, frozen grave near a river at the Deer Creek Campground in Park County. The remains were discovered with clothing and an apparent gunshot wound to the skull, as later confirmed by an autopsy.

Park County Coroner David Kintz, utilizing forensic genetic genealogy services from United Data Connect, and in collaboration with the CBI, began the identification process. DNA determined the remains showed Czechloslavakian ancestry, which was consistent with Cizek’s Slovakian ancestry, confirmed through his 85-year-old sister in Illinois. A facial reconstruction was also completed in December 2025 to aid identification.

The final confirmation came on March 24, 2026, when the CBI Lab confirmed a CODIS match. Investigators, connecting the UHR case to the missing person file for John Cizek from the 2016 Golden P.D. case, arranged for a sample from a soiled shirt collected from Cizek’s California home to be entered into CODIS. This sample immediately hit and matched the DNA profile produced from the remains. Based on the CODIS match and the genealogy work, Coroner Kintz formally confirmed the remains are those of John Cizek.

The location of Cizek’s body was over 3 hours away from where he was last seen alive. 

Background of the 2016 Homicide Investigation

The investigation into Mr. Cizek’s death began in April 2016, when the Golden Police Department was investigating a sexual assault on a child involving suspect David Little, 40. Investigators developed probable cause to arrest Little, but he fled prior to being taken into custody.

On June 21, 2016, Golden Police detectives attempted to apprehend Little in Edgewater during an undercover operation. During that encounter, Little opened fire on detectives. Officers returned fire, and Little was injured and taken into custody. No officers were injured.

At the time of his arrest, Little was in possession of identification and credit cards belonging to John Cizek. Investigators also located an RV in Jefferson County registered to Mr. Cizek, with Little’s dog inside.

A search of the RV revealed evidence consistent with foul play, including signs of a cleaned crime scene, blood evidence, and a bullet hole.

Critical surveillance footage obtained during the investigation showed Mr. Cizek entered his RV at the Big R store in Alamosa on June 12, 2016 at 12:11 p.m.. The same footage shows Little arriving in a separate vehicle at 12:15 p.m., approaching and entering the RV, and the RV leaving the area at 12:24 p.m. This was the last confirmed sighting of Mr. Cizek. 

Investigators traced financial records, which included purchases made by Little using Mr. Cizek’s credit cards, and a cash purchase by Little of items such as a shovel and materials used to alter or repair the RV.  Credit card activity indicated Little drove the RV between Alamosa and Denver via Highway 285 and stopped in Park County for gas late one evening. The Deer Creek Campground area where the remains were found is also in Park County, roughly 50 miles from the gas station Little stopped at. 

Investigators also recovered journals written by Mr. Little while he was on the run. Those entries documented his movements, his efforts to evade law enforcement, and his plans to steal an RV and abduct the sexual assault victim.

Despite not locating Mr. Cizek, investigators developed substantial evidence that Mr. Little was responsible for his death. Prosecutors with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Little without a recovered body, an uncommon step in a homicide case.

On October 4, 2016, Little died by suicide while in custody at the Jefferson County Jail.

The CBI acknowledges the critical work of the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Park County Coroner David Kintz, Golden P.D., the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory (JCRCL),  Crimestoppers, the CBI Arvada Lab, Bode Laboratory, and United Data Connect in bringing this 10-year-old missing person case to a final identification.

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