PA - Gretchen Harrington, 8, found murdered, Marple Twp, 15 Aug 1975 *arrest in 2023*

[Mama-dukes]

It's so frustrating. If clergy were investigated properly in 1975, her family would have had answers so much sooner. I live in a city in PA with an OVERWHELMING history of sexual abuse within the church, and no one acknowledges it. The separation of church and state, one of the primary reasons this country was founded, is so far from a reality.

I’m also in Pennsylvania so I know exactly what you mean

 

[vls12345]

Fairfield police reopen missing child cold case in light of former local pastor's arrest

The Fairfield Police Department is reopening a cold case involving a girl that went missing in 1991.

www.kcra.com

and

CA officers looking to see if there are ties between arrested pastor, missing girl case there

Last week, David Zandstra was arrested in the 1975 murder of an 8-year-old who vanished while walking to Bible school.

www.wsbtv.com

 

[vls12345]

District Attorney Stollsteimer Announces Charges in the 1975 Murder of Eight-Year-Old Gretchen Harrington - Delaware County District Attorneys Office

Media, PA – District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced today that, nearly 50 years after the abduction and murder of eight year old Gretchen Harrington, charges have been brought against David […]

delcoda.com

Zandstra has been charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first, second, and third degree, as well as kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime.

 

[vls12345]

Fairfield church 'shocked and horrified' by former pastor’s arrest

“The members of our church are shocked and horrified that any person, much less a pastor, could commit such crimes and conceal this evil for close to five decades. May God in His mercy comfort all of those who have been affected by these heinous acts.”

www.kcra.com

 

[Mama-dukes]

California cops investigate if 'monster' ex-pastor David Zandstra, 83, arrested for 1975 killing of Pennsylvania girl, 8, on her way to bible school is linked to 1991 disappearance of four-year-old girl in Bay Area​

Is 'monster' ex-pastor David Zandstra linked to vanishing of girl, 4?

Authorities are looking into David Zandstra, 83, potential involvement in the 1991 disappearance of a four-year-old girl Amanda 'Nikki' Campbell from California.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Mama-dukes]

California cops investigate if 'monster' ex-pastor David Zandstra, 83, arrested for 1975 killing of Pennsylvania girl, 8, on her way to bible school is linked to 1991 disappearance of four-year-old girl in Bay Area​

Is 'monster' ex-pastor David Zandstra linked to vanishing of girl, 4?

Authorities are looking into David Zandstra, 83, potential involvement in the 1991 disappearance of a four-year-old girl Amanda 'Nikki' Campbell from California.

www.dailymail.co.uk

This may be linked 2 another case I also put this in the other thread about this little girl​

CA - Amanda Campbell, 4, Fairfield, 27 Dec 1991​

 

[vls12345]

PHOTOS: 83-year-old Marietta man arrested in cold case murder of 8-year-old girl

www.wsbtv.com

 

[Mama-dukes]

I bet we will have more victims on this man just saying they r looking in 2 Texas now

PA investigators hope North Texans can tell them more about a former pastor accused of killing a child

Investigators in Pennsylvania are looking for details on accused killer David Zandstra’s life in North Texas after he admitted to the 1975 murder of an 8-year-old girl last week.

www.nbcdfw.com

 

[vls12345]

He's still sitting in the Cobb County Jail in Georgia.

Cobb Sheriff Inmate Search

Wonder what the status is of his extradition/court case to get him to Pennsylvania? Last entry I see is August 1.

https://courtconnect.cobbcounty.org:4443/ccmag/ck_public_qry_doct.cp_dktrpt_frames?backto=P&case_id=23-W-6486&begin_date=&end_date=

28-JUL-2023 08:35 AM	MOTION		​
Entry:	ATTORNEY MADDOX KILGORE FILED "EMERGENCY MOTION TO WITHDRAW WAIVER OF EXTRADITION" COPY GIVEN TO ATTORNEY TO WALK TO JUDGE MURPHY HIMSELF.​
01-AUG-2023 03:11 PM	ENTRY OF APPEARANCE		​
Entry:	MADDOX KILGORE​

Looks like DZ's attorney while in GA is Maddox Kilgore.

 

[wall_flower6]

Hard to believe that, given folks knew he molested children back in 1975, no one put two and two together. Was he ever interviewed? I guess back then people gave priests etc. a pass, believing that being a man of god meant they were incapable of such acts. I mean if they had developed a suspect list, wouldn't this guy have been on it somewhere? And and interview of his daughter would have likely turned up the information about his activities.

This is sad on what is saying he did this part here

Police honed in on Zandstra as a suspect in January, when investigators interviewed an unnamed witness who was best friends with his daughter when Gretchen disappeared, according to a criminal complaint. The witness said that she often went to sleepovers at Zandstra’s home, and during one about a week before Gretchen’s disappearance, Zandstra molested her. When the witness told Zandstra’s daughter what had happened, she told her friend that Zandstra “does that sometimes,” the complaint said.

Minister charged in 1975 killing of 8-year-old Delco girl Gretchen Harrington

David Zandstra is being charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and other related charges, according to court records.

www.inquirer.com

The fact that his daughter had said to her best friend, “He does that sometimes,” after her friend mentioned the molestation… yikes! The daughter speaks from experience!

 

[charminglane]

The fact that his daughter had said to her best friend, “He does that sometimes,” after her friend mentioned the molestation… yikes! The daughter speaks from experience!

Your first post @wall_flower6!
Thank you for being here for Gretchen.

 

[wall_flower6]

Does anyone think that Zandstra minimized the sexual aspects of the crime in his confession?

Oh for sure

 

[TallCoolOne]

Welcome a"board" wall_flower6.

Glad to have you join the group.

 

[Mama-dukes]

Oh for sure

Welcome I didn’t realize that until someone else said it I hope you enjoy this webpage

 

[wall_flower6]

Thank you for all the warm welcomes!

 

[vls12345]

Gretchen Harrington, a Delco Pastor, and the End of Innocence

The inside story of the infamous 50-year-old cold case.

www.phillymag.com

 

[vls12345]

Extradition Of Accused 1975 Delco Cold Case Killer Being Processed

Extradition Of Accused 1975 Delco Cold Case... - Marple Newtown, PA - The extradition of David Zandstra, 83, of Georgia, is ongoing as the former minister is charged with Gretchen Harringtons 1975 murder.

patch.com

 

[Richrd]

.

11 October (Lower) PA Court Date

Defendant:
David George Zandstra, now 83

Murder Victim:
Gretchen Harrington, Only 8

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/MdjDocketSheet?docketNumber=MJ-32248-CR-0000202-2023&dnh=16B6ZDFjzoX00KT0u4QkRA%3D%3D

&

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/MdjCourtSummary?docketNumber=MJ-32248-CR-0000202-2023&dnh=16B6ZDFjzoX00KT0u4QkRA%3D%3D

Via: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch

Gretchen Harrington - David G. Zandstra - Google Search

.

 

[PaHopeful]

The fact that his daughter had said to her best friend, “He does that sometimes,” after her friend mentioned the molestation… yikes! The daughter speaks from experience!

Hi there! (brand newbie here)
So…sad that it took this long to charge that “Pastor” Cops might've figured it out back then. I remember as a kid in the 70’s, adults could be super-dismissive of our opinions & observations. Wonder how many more victims he had past 50 years?

 

[Trebor5591]

I hope David Zandstra spends the rest of his life in the most wretched prison cell imaginable and dies in prison.