Pennsylvania pastor charged with cold case murder of 8-year-old girl killed 50 years ago on walk to church
A pastor has been charged with a cold-case murder of an eight-year-old girl who was disappeared strolling to Bible camp in August of 1975.
David Zandstra was arrested for the murder of neghbourng pastor’s daughter Gretchen Harrington and has been charged with legal murder, murder of the primary, second, and third diploma, in addition to kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime.
“The murder of Gretchen Harrington has haunted members of legislation enforcement since that horrible day in August 1975. The households of victims typically say that their lives are endlessly altered into the “earlier than” time and the “after” time,” stated District Lawyer Jack Stollsteimer.
“Gretchen’s murder created a “earlier than” time and an “after” time for a whole neighborhood – and for a whole county. This heinous act left a household and a neighborhood endlessly modified. In the end I can announce as we speak that her killer – David Zandstra – has admitted to his crime. Justice has been a very long time coming, however we’re proud and grateful to lastly have the option to give the neighborhood a solution.”
On the morning of August 15, 1975, Harrington left her residence on Lawrence Street in Marple at roughly 9:30 am to walk to her summer season bible camp.
The camp used each the premises of the Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church (“Trinity”) and the premises of The Reformed Presbyterian Church (“Reformed”) subsequent door. The defendant was the pastor of Trinity, and Harrington’s father was the pastor of Reformed.
Harrington’s father realised his daughter was lacking when she failed to seem at Reformed, and her disappearance was reported to the police shortly afterwards.
Her physique was discovered two months later in Ridley Creek State Park, however regardless of the defendant being interviewed across the time of her disappearance, no arrest was made.
