Current:Home > StocksFormer reverend arrested for 1975 murder of 8-year-old girl-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Former reverend arrested for 1975 murder of 8-year-old girl
View Date:2024-12-23 20:52:39
An 83-year-old former reverend has been arrested for allegedly killing an 8-year-old girl in 1975 while she was on her way to his Bible camp, authorities said.
On Aug. 15, 1975, Gretchen Harrington was walking alone to her last day of camp in Marple Township, Pennsylvania, when the suspect, David Zandstra, allegedly drove up to her in his green station wagon, prosecutors said.
Zandstra was a reverend at the camp and a friend of the Harrington family, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said at a Monday news conference. Zandstra was also the father of one of Gretchen's friends, so the 8-year-old got in his car, Stollsteimer said.
MORE: Gilgo Beach murders: Police dig up suspect's backyard as search for evidence continues
Zandstra confessed to police last week, according to the criminal complaint. Zandstra allegedly told authorities that once he got Gretchen in his car, he drove to a secure location. Zandstra then asked Gretchen to take off her clothes, and when she refused, he allegedly beat her to death with his hands, Stollsteimer said.
Zandstra allegedly disposed of her body and then went back to the church, Stollsteimer said.
"This man is evil," Stollsteimer said.
Zandstra, who later served as a reverend in Texas and Georgia, now lives in Marietta, Georgia, officials said. He is in custody in Georgia on charges including criminal homicide and is fighting extradition, Stollsteimer said.
According to the criminal complaint, multiple witnesses saw Gretchen talking to the driver of a green station wagon, and multiple witnesses, and Zandstra himself, placed Zandstra driving on the road where Gretchen was seen walking to camp.
Zandstra also allegedly gave authorities specific descriptions of Gretchen's clothes, even though he had denied seeing Gretchen that day, according to the criminal complaint.
MORE: Decades-old New Hampshire cold case murder solved through genetic genealogy, officials say
This January, prosecutors said authorities interviewed a woman who was best friends with Zandstra's daughter when they were children. She told police that at one sleepover at Zandstra's house when she was 10, she was awakened by Zandstra groping her, prosecutors said. When she told Zandstra's daughter, the daughter allegedly replied that her dad "does that sometimes," according to the criminal complaint.
The Harrington family said in a statement released by prosecutors, "We are extremely hopeful that the person who is responsible for the heinous crime that was committed against our Gretchen will be held accountable."
"If you met Gretchen, you were instantly her friend. She exuded kindness to all and was sweet and gentle," the family said. "We are grateful for the continual pursuit of justice by law enforcement and we want to thank the Pennsylvania State Police for never stopping in their constant search for answers. We would not be here today if it was not for them."
ABC News' Cherise Rudy contributed to this report.
veryGood! (9628)
Related
- Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate
- Search for missing Titanic sub yields noises for a 2nd day, U.S. Coast Guard says
- World’s Most Fuel-Efficient Car Makes Its Debut
- Tar Sands Pipeline that Could Rival Keystone XL Quietly Gets Trump Approval
- Lady Gaga Joins Wednesday Season 2 With Jenna Ortega, So Prepare to Have a Monster Ball
- In Oklahoma, a woman was told to wait until she's 'crashing' for abortion care
- The Kids Are Not Alright
- Edgy or insensitive? The Paralympics TikTok account sparks a debate
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- Advisers to the FDA back first over-the-counter birth control pill
Ranking
- Olivia Culpo Celebrates Christian McCaffrey's NFL Comeback Alongside Mother-in-Law
- MLB trade deadline tracker: Will Angels deal Shohei Ohtani?
- High Oil Subsidies Ensure Profit for Nearly Half New U.S. Investments, Study Shows
- Clean Power Startups Aim to Break Monopoly of U.S. Utility Giants
- Surfer Bethany Hamilton Makes Masked Singer Debut After 3-Year-Old Nephew’s Tragic Death
- Tracking health threats, one sewage sample at a time
- America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it
- Is gray hair reversible? A new study digs into the root cause of aging scalps
Recommendation
-
Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate
-
Why viral reservoirs are a prime suspect for long COVID sleuths
-
At least 4 dead and 2 critically hurt after overnight fire in NYC e-bike repair shop
-
12 House Republicans Urge Congress to Cut ANWR Oil Drilling from Tax Bill
-
Only 8 monkeys remain free after more than a week outside a South Carolina compound
-
Crushed by Covid-19, Airlines Lobby for a Break on Emissions Offsets
-
American Idol Singer Iam Tongi Reacts to Crazy Season 21 Win
-
The End of New Jersey’s Solar Gold Rush?