Jannah Theme License is not validated, Go to the theme options page to validate the license, You need a single license for each domain name.
USA

Former pastor, 83, charged with murder of 8-year-old girl in 1975

Police have arrested an 83-year-old former pastor on suspicion of murder nearly 50 years after he allegedly kidnapped and murdered 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in Pennsylvania, officials said Monday.

David Zandostra He has been charged with criminal murder, first-, second- and third-degree murder, kidnapping of a minor, and possession of criminal equipment. He was interviewed during the original investigation in 1975, but it was this year’s police interview that investigators were able to gather enough information to make an arrest, said District Attorney Jack Stallsteimer.

Harrington left the Marple home at about 9:00 am on the morning of August 15, 1975, for the summer Bible camp, Stolstheimer. Said. The camp used the grounds of both the Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reformed Church, where Mr. Zandostra was pastor.

Zandostra, who will be in charge of the opening exercises at Trinity, was one of the people responsible for taking the children from Trinity to the Reformed Church, where Harrington’s father worked as a pastor, officials said.

David Zandostra, 83, has been charged with the murder of eight-year-old Gretchen Harrington in 1975.

Delaware County District Attorney’s Office


On the day of Harrington’s disappearance, his father became concerned that Harrington had not arrived at Reformed and called the police by 11:23 a.m.

Authorities said Harrington’s skeleton was found two months later in Ridley Creek State Park.

During the investigation, witnesses told police they saw Harrington talking to the driver of either a two-tone Cadillac or a green station wagon known to have been used by Zandostra. Police interviewed Ms. Zandostra in October 1975, but Ms. Zandostra denied having met Harrington on the day she disappeared.

On January 2nd of this year, investigators interviewed a woman who alleged Zandostra abused her as a child. Authorities said the alleged victim, who has not been identified, was a close friend of Zandostra’s daughter and often stayed at her home. She told police that during a sleepover when she was 10, she woke up to Zandostra groping her body. She told Zandostra’s daughter what had happened, and her daughter “she replied that the defendant sometimes did things like that,” according to the district attorney’s office.

Investigators then met with Zandostra on July 17 in Marietta, Georgia, where he now lives, officials said. Zandostra initially denied any involvement in Harrington’s disappearance, but after being confronted with evidence submitted by an alleged molestation victim, Zandostra admitted to meeting Harrington on the day of her disappearance.

He admitted he was driving a green station wagon that day and told Harrington that he had driven him to a wooded area.

“The defendant said he parked the car and asked the victim to remove his clothes,” the official said in a news release. “When she refused, he hit her on the head with his fist. The victim was bleeding and he believed her dead. He tried to hide her body and leave the scene.”

Officer Eugene Trey, who interviewed Zandostra, said the murder suspect seemed relieved.

“I don’t know if he regrets what he did, but it’s definitely taken a weight off his shoulders,” Trey said.

Zandostra has been detained in Georgia and is being held without bail in the Cobb County Jail. He is fighting extradition and authorities are working to obtain a governor’s warrant to take him to Pennsylvania.

“We are going to convict him,” Stollsteimer said. He will die in prison, and then have to find out what the God he professes to believe has against those who do so much evil to our children. “

Harrington’s father is dead, but his mother and three sisters are still alive, officials said.

Authorities are investigating whether there may be other victims associated with Zandostra, who lived in Plano, Texas, who lived in Marietta after Harrington’s death.

Summarize this content to 100 words Police have arrested an 83-year-old former pastor on suspicion of murder nearly 50 years after he allegedly kidnapped and murdered 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in Pennsylvania, officials said Monday. David Zandostra He has been charged with criminal murder, first-, second- and third-degree murder, kidnapping of a minor, and possession of criminal equipment. He was interviewed during the original investigation in 1975, but it was this year’s police interview that investigators were able to gather enough information to make an arrest, said District Attorney Jack Stallsteimer.Harrington left the Marple home at about 9:00 am on the morning of August 15, 1975, for the summer Bible camp, Stolstheimer. Said. The camp used the grounds of both the Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reformed Church, where Mr. Zandostra was pastor.

Zandostra, who will be in charge of the opening exercises at Trinity, was one of the people responsible for taking the children from Trinity to the Reformed Church, where Harrington’s father worked as a pastor, officials said.

David Zandostra, 83, has been charged with the murder of eight-year-old Gretchen Harrington in 1975.

Delaware County District Attorney’s Office

On the day of Harrington’s disappearance, his father became concerned that Harrington had not arrived at Reformed and called the police by 11:23 a.m.

Authorities said Harrington’s skeleton was found two months later in Ridley Creek State Park. During the investigation, witnesses told police they saw Harrington talking to the driver of either a two-tone Cadillac or a green station wagon known to have been used by Zandostra. Police interviewed Ms. Zandostra in October 1975, but Ms. Zandostra denied having met Harrington on the day she disappeared.On January 2nd of this year, investigators interviewed a woman who alleged Zandostra abused her as a child. Authorities said the alleged victim, who has not been identified, was a close friend of Zandostra’s daughter and often stayed at her home. She told police that during a sleepover when she was 10, she woke up to Zandostra groping her body. She told Zandostra’s daughter what had happened, and her daughter “she replied that the defendant sometimes did things like that,” according to the district attorney’s office.Investigators then met with Zandostra on July 17 in Marietta, Georgia, where he now lives, officials said. Zandostra initially denied any involvement in Harrington’s disappearance, but after being confronted with evidence submitted by an alleged molestation victim, Zandostra admitted to meeting Harrington on the day of her disappearance.

He admitted he was driving a green station wagon that day and told Harrington that he had driven him to a wooded area. “The defendant said he parked the car and asked the victim to remove his clothes,” the official said in a news release. “When she refused, he hit her on the head with his fist. The victim was bleeding and he believed her dead. He tried to hide her body and leave the scene.”Officer Eugene Trey, who interviewed Zandostra, said the murder suspect seemed relieved. “I don’t know if he regrets what he did, but it’s definitely taken a weight off his shoulders,” Trey said.Zandostra has been detained in Georgia and is being held without bail in the Cobb County Jail. He is fighting extradition and authorities are working to obtain a governor’s warrant to take him to Pennsylvania. “We are going to convict him,” Stollsteimer said. He will die in prison, and then have to find out what the God he professes to believe has against those who do so much evil to our children. “Harrington’s father is dead, but his mother and three sisters are still alive, officials said.

Authorities are investigating whether there may be other victims associated with Zandostra, who lived in Plano, Texas, who lived in Marietta after Harrington’s death.

trending news

Aliza Chasan

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer for 60 Minutes and CBS News.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-zandstra-pastor-charged-murder-gretchen-harrington-1975-pennsylvania/ Former pastor, 83, charged with murder of 8-year-old girl in 1975

Back to top button