An 83-year-old Marietta man, a former pastor, has been arrested in connection with the cold-case murder of an 8-year-old girl, a shocking arrest that comes after a decade-long investigation into the young victim’s disappearance and death.
Pastor from Georgia arrested
In a shocking development, an 83-year-old Marietta man who was once a pastor has been arrested in connection with a cold-case murder that dates back to 1975. The victim, 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington, disappeared while attending a summer Bible camp in Marple Township , Pennsylvania.
The discovery of skeletal remains at a state park in Edgemont Township on Oct. 14 led to the discovery that Gretchen died of blunt force trauma to the head, confirming that it was a homicide.
At the time of the incident, the Bible camp was being held at two churches, one of which was the Reformed Presbyterian Church where Gretchen’s father served as pastor. Another church, the Christian Reform Church Chapel, was led by David Zandstra, who is now a suspect in the case.
On the day of Gretchen’s disappearance, she was supposed to start the day at Trinity Church and then go to the Reformed Church with the other campers. Zandstra, who was responsible for transporting the children between the two locations, became a person of interest in the investigation.
When Gretchen didn’t arrive at Trinity, her father contacted Zandstra, who claimed she never made it to the church. Subsequently, Zandstra reported her disappearance to the police.
An eyewitness later recalled seeing Gretchen talking to someone near a green station wagon or two-tone Cadillac the morning she disappeared. Although Zandstra denied seeing her that day, investigators noted that he described her clothing in detail.
News of Zandstra’s arrest left neighbors in disbelief, as he was known as a kind and caring individual in the community. Revelations of possible inappropriate behavior towards his daughter’s friend and previous suspicions by others further complicated the case. As investigations continue, authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth behind this long-standing mystery and bring justice to Gretchen Harrington and her family.
What happened to Pastor Georgia?
Pennsylvania authorities have made a stunning announcement, charging an 83-year-old former pastor with the horrific kidnapping and murder of a young girl in 1975. David Zandstra, the suspect, was arrested in Georgia after allegedly confessing to a crime committed nearly fifty years earlier when he served as a pastor in Marple Township , Pennsylvania.
The breakthrough in the chilling case came after investigators presented Zandstra with compelling new evidence, including insights from interviews with a confidential informant and a diary entry written by a 10-year-old girl in 1975. Charges against him include felony murder, murder, kidnapping of a minor, and possession of a weapon.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer expressed relief that justice had finally been served after such a long wait, acknowledging how the case has haunted both police and the small community of Marple Township since the tragic disappearance of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington. Gretchen’s last known moments were on August 15, 1975, when she left for summer Bible camp.
The camp took place in two churches, the Trinity Chapel Christian Reformed Church where Zandstra was the pastor and the Reformed Presbyterian Church that Gretchen’s father presided over. Worried by her absence, Gretchen’s father demanded answers, and it was Zandstra who reported her missing to the police.
Suspicion arose when discrepancies were found in Zandstra’s initial statements, and investigators were baffled as to how he knew intricate details about Gretchen’s clothing the day she failed to arrive at camp, as revealed in a recently released criminal complaint.
Zandstra then vehemently denied any involvement in her disappearance. Tragically, two months later, Gretchen’s remains were discovered at Ridley Creek State Park, and the medical examiner ruled her cause of death a homicide, citing “two or more blunt force trauma to the skull,” according to court documents.
For nearly five decades, the case remained unsolved until a key revelation from an interview with a woman who was a close friend of the suspect’s daughter in the 1970s, along with the discovery of diary entries from that time, reignited hope for justice.
A former pastor arrested for the murder of a girl who went to church in 1975
In a shocking incident that occurred on August 15, 1975, 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington was kidnapped and tragically murdered while on her way to a Bible camp in a settlement near Philadelphia. A significant development recently occurred when authorities arrested 83-year-old David Zandstra, who was the pastor of one of the camp’s host churches, and charged him with Harrington’s murder.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Zandstra’s confession came after he was confronted with compelling new evidence, including a witness who claimed the former pastor groped her and may have tried to abduct another local girl. Zandstra now faces serious charges, including felony murder, first-, second- and third-degree murder, kidnapping and possession of an instrument of crime.
The discovery came to light when a new witness, whose identity has not been released, provided a diary containing an entry written a month after Harrington’s disappearance. In that entry, she speculated that Zandstra might be responsible for attempting to abduct another girl on two occasions. The witness also revealed that the suspect groped her while sleeping at his residence, just seven days before Harrington disappeared.
Officials interviewed Zandstra near his residence in Georgia on July 17, during which he voluntarily spoke and was read his Miranda rights. After being presented with new witness information, Zandstra allegedly confessed to the crime.
Father Gretchen Harrington, who was pastor at the neighboring Reformed Presbyterian Church, hosted the second half of each day of the summer Bible camp. On the fateful day, Gretchen’s sisters stayed at home because her mother had recently given birth, prompting her father to encourage her to walk alone, given her flawless arrival.
When she didn’t arrive at the Reformed Presbyterian Church by 11 a.m., her father went on a desperate search along Lawrence Road, eventually contacting police when she was 23 minutes late.
This case has remained an incredible mystery for decades, and a recent discovery has finally provided some semblance of closure for Gretchen Harrington’s family and the community affected by this tragic event.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education