Three decades after a woman was forced off the road in Missouri and beaten to death, police make an arrest

Diana Lukosius was beaten nearly to death off a Missouri highway in 1984 and died days after the attack. For 36 years, no arrests were made in connection to her murder. 

That changed last week.

Larry Gene Hicks, 78, was charged with second-degree murder in connection to the murder of Lukosius in Camdenton, Missouri, according to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office. 

Hicks was living in St. Mary Parish in Louisiana when he turned in to police last week. 

Sheriff Blaise Smith said that Hicks was interviewed by investigators in Camden County, Missouri last week and “made admissions that implicated him in the murder.” 

Police found Lukosius badly beaten near her car in December 1984, according to KY3

Investigators believe the attacker forced her off the road before the attack.  Lukosius died two days later from injuries sustained in the brutal beating, according to KY3.

Officials have not disclosed if there was any relationship between Hicks and Lukosius. 

Camden County Missouri Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham said the case left an impact in the community and Lukosious' murder has remained in the back of everybody's minds. 

“It struck fear into the citizens, turned neighbors against each other and left us all diminished for the loss of the victim," he said, according to KY3.

Hicks is being held in a Louisiana jail until he can be returned to Missouri to face the charges.