In May of 2024, a man was fishing in the area of Park County’s Deer Creek campground when he found a shallow, frozen grave near the water. This resulted in the discovery of male skeletal remains, still with clothing and with a gunshot wound to the skull.

While the identity of the person the remains belonged to was initially unknown, DNA evidence was ultimately used to identify the remains as those of John Cizek, a 71-year-old from Newark, California who was the victim of homicide in June of 2016.

In order to use DNA from the remains to identify Cizek, officials first used the DNA to determine that the remains were those of someone with Czechoslovakian ancestry. Suspicious the remains could be those of Cizek, authorities confirmed his ancestry with his 85-year-old sister in Illinois and then compared the DNA of the unidentified remains with DNA from a shirt that had been collected from Cizek’s home in California. The DNA matched, and almost 10 years after Cizek was killed, it was confirmed that his body had been found, per a March 2026 announcement from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

The 2016 homicide case involving Cizek stems from the arrest of David Little, a suspect in a sexual assault on a child case, who was taken into custody with John Cizek’s identification and credit cards in his possession. Further investigation revealed that Little’s dog was in an RV trailer that was found in Jefferson County and owned by Cizek, prompting additional concern about Cizek’s well-being and whereabouts. Additional investigation of the RV revealed what authorities described as a “cleaned crime scene” consistent with foul play and complete with blood evidence and a bullet hole.

The last confirmed sighting of Cizek took place three hours from where he was ultimately found, with surveillance footage capturing Cizek entering his RV on June 12, 2026 followed by Little entering the RV minutes later. The RV then left the area with both men inside soon after that.

Authorities alleged that Little then reportedly used Cizek’s credit cards and cash to purchase a shovel and items related to RV alterations and repair. Investigators were also able to use financial records to determine that the RV traveled Highway 285 from Alamosa and Denver, stopping in Park County for gas one evening. Cizek’s remains were ultimately found about 50 miles from the Park County gas station where that stop was made.

Other evidence in the case included journal entries allegedly penned by Little while on the run. These journal entries reportedly documented his movements and his plans to steal an RV and abduct the assault victim.

While Cizek’s body was not discovered in 2016, authorities felt there was enough evidence to charge Little with murder at that time – described as an uncommon decision in a homicide case.

David Little, 40, ultimately died by suicide while in custody in Jefferson County.

The confirmed results of the DNA test on the remains found by the fisherman in 2024 solved a 10-year-old missing person case, bringing closure to Cizek’s family and loved ones.

“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,” the press release on the matter reads.

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