(CN) — Gideon Castro, a 66-year-old Utah man who last month agreed to be extradited to Hawaii to face charges in the murder of a 16-year-old high school sophomore in 1977, will not be extradited after prosecutors said they needed more time to investigate the 48-year-old crime.
After prosecutors in Honolulu declined to extradite him, prosecutors in Utah filed a motion to release him from custody.
“After careful consideration, and in the discretion of the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, we have come to the difficult decision that we cannot currently proceed with prosecution of this case, due to recent complications involving a material witness in this case and the state of the evidence. These issues have led to the conclusion that further investigation is necessary before we proceed with extradition, which will require considerable funding and resources, and prosecution,” wrote Kelsi Guerra, deputy prosecuting attorney for the city and county of Honolulu, in a letter to Clifford Ross, deputy Salt Lake County district attorney, on Monday…